i 


'  A 

MEMORIAL, 

CONTAINING 

•   m 

À 

V  fiimmary  View  of  F  ACT  S, 


WITH    T  H  E  I  H 


AUTHORITIES, 


In  Answer  to  the  Observations  fent  by 
the  English  Miniftry  to  the  Courts  of 
Europe, 


*    TranJIated  from  the  French. 

\    \p  H  I  L  A  D  E  L  P  H  I  A: 
Printed,  by   Tames   Chattin,    1757, 


' 


* 


MEMORIAL, 

CONTAINING 

V  fu  mmary  View  of  F  si  C  T  S~, 

WITH    T  H  E  I  It 

1      AUTHORITIES, 

In  Answer  to  the  Observations  fent  by 
the  English  Miniftry  to  the  Courts  of 
Europe. 

-    Tranjlated  from  the  French, 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed,   by    Tames   Chattin,    1757, 


\\a  r^    u»«*  *^ 


ADVERTISEMENT 


TO    THE 


XV     X-j    il    m-J    JlLa 


y'|"1  H E  Public  have  been  already  injormed% 
i        /to  ^  /j&r^  French  Volumes  of  which 
JL      /fo  following    is    a   Tranflation,  were 
found    in  a  French  Prize  taken  and 
carried  into  St.  Chrifïophers,  and  brought  here 
by  a  Gentleman  from  that  Place  :  Their  Authen- 
ticity cannot  be  fufpecled^  as  they  were  pitbli fed 
at  the  Royal-Office,  and,  confequently,  by  Order 
of  the  French  King. 

As  there  was  at  that  Time  %  but  one  Copy  of 
them  in  this  Place \  and  that  in  a  Language  not 
generally  known,  it  'was  thought  that  a  Publi- 
cation    of     them     might     be     of     Service^ 

as 

%  Since  that,  fcveral  were  found  in  a  Prixc  carried  inro 

Ntw-ïôrk. 


(     »     ) 

m  well  to  difcover  the  vile  MifreprefentdUon  of 
Facts  of  which  the  French  have  been  guilty ',  as 
to  make  known  the  Falfity  of  their  Pretenjions  ta 
Countries  to  which  they  have  7iot  the  leaf  Sha- 
dow of  Right  or  Claim. 

As  to  the  Tranjlatiott  itfelf  it  is  as  literal  as 
the  different  Idioms  of  the  two  Languages  would 
permit.  In  a  Work  of  this  Nature  Corfe&nefs 
rather  than  Elegance  ought  to  be  Jludied,  and 
the  Reader  would  be  willing  to  difpenfe  with  the 
Beauties  of  ExpreJfiony  provided  he  has  but  a 
jujl  and  clear  Account  of  Facts. 

The  Translator  begs  leave  to  make  ufe  of 
this  Opportunity  publicly  to  acknowledge  the  Obli- 
gations he  is  under  to  thofe  young  Gentlemen, 
whofogeneroujly  favoured  him  with  their  Afjifmce 
in  this  Work,  and  to  affure  them,  that  he  will 
ever  entertain  the  mojl  grateful  Senfe  of  the  Fg* 
vours  they  have  conferred  upon  him. 


w&wè. 


i 


MEMORIAL,    <£>c\ 

HI  S  Britannic  Majefty  hath  cauf- 
ed  to  be  fent  to  moil  of  the 
Courts  of  Europe,  a  Pamphlet,  en- 
tituled,  Obfervations  on  'he  Me- 
!..  ^rial  of  France,  with  an  Intention  to  con- 
fute the  reafons  upon  which  the  King  hath 
founded  his  requifition  of  the  21ft  of  De- 
cember laft,  and  the^by  to  juftify  the  refufal 
made  by  England  or  reftoring  to  France 
her  Veffels  taken  in   full  Peace. 

A  refufal  fo  inconfiftent  both  with  that 
natural  Juftice  which  conftitutes  the  Law  of 
Nations,  as  well  as  thofe  pacific  Views  to 
which  his  Britannic  Majefty  hath  always 
profeffed  an  invariable  Adherence,  could  ad- 
mit of  no  Colour,  but  the  Imputation  of 
Hoftilities  to  France  antecedent  to  thofe 
Captures.  To  weaken  the  Impreffion,  which 
the  Outrages  committed  by  the  E,nglifh  Na- 
A  vy 


.  (  2  ) 

vy  for  a  Year  paft,  rnuft  make  on  the  Pow- 
ers abroad,  it  was  neceffary  to  be  proved,  or 
at  leaft  maintained,  that  the  French  were  the 
AggreiTors  :  Such  accordingly  is  the  princi- 
pal Fact  advanced  in  thefe  Obfervations. 
They  are  intended  to  evince,  that  the  French 
have  committed  Hoftility  in  America ,  which 
have  obliged  the  Court  of  London  to  feek 
redrefs  by  juft  reprifals. 

To  thefe  Imputations  the  Court  of  France 
will  only  oppofe  the  moil:  firnple  View  of 
what  has  pafled  between  the  two  Nations* 
whether  in  Europe  or  America,  fince  the 
Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle.  The  Sovereigns 
have  for  Judges  the  Age  in  which  they  live, 
&•.  d  Pofterity  ;  it  is  the  Province  of  impar- 
tial Hiftoiy  alone  to  arraign  their  Conduce, 
as  it    alone   can  defend   them. 

To  put  the  recital  of  fuch  important  Facts 
beyond  the  Power  of  Cenfure,  nothing  mail 
fee  advanced  which  is  not  either  confefTed 
by  both  Courts,  or  proved  by  authentic 
and  inconteftible  Piece's.  Thofe  which  were 
found  in  the  Cabinet  of  General  Braddock^ 
after  the  Engagement  which  coft  him  his 
Life,  have  given  fuch  Lights  into  the  Plan  of 
the  Court  of  London,  as  were  not  intended  for 
public  View,  till  after  having  try'  d  all  pof- 

fible 


(  3  ) 

fible  Ways,- (paring  the  EfigUJh  Mihiftry  the 
Mortification  of  feeing  their  Syftem  unvailed, 

By  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  France  had  add- 
ed to  England  Nova-Scotia  or  Acadia,  ac- 
cording to  its  ancient  Limits,  as  aifo  the 
Town  of  Port-Royal.  It  is  probable  that  at 
that  Time,  the  Miniftry  of  great  Britain  had 
nearly  the  fame  Idea  of  Acadia  properly  fo 
called  as  had  ever  been  entertain'd  in  France  ; 
but  certain  it  is,  that  at  that  Time  they 
had  never  dreamt  of  extending  this  Pro- 
vince as  far  as  the  Southern  Banks  of  the 
river  Saint-Lawrence. 

Accordingly  the  French  fettled  upon  the 
river  Saint-John,  all  along  the  Coaft  of  the 
Elchemins,  and  from  that  Coaft  as  far  as  the 
river  Saint-Lawrence,  even  the  Inhabitant  :- 
pf  Minas  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  the  Iflh- 
mus,  and  the  other  Countries  neareft  to  that 
which  had  been  ceded  to  Great-Britain, 
found  no  Change  in  their  Condition,  or  in 
their  Poffeffions.  The  Rnglijh  neither  at- 
tempted to  drive  them  out  of  the  Country, 
nor  to  oblige  them  to  take  the  Oath  of  Al- 
legiance to  the  King  of  England.  Thefe  In- 
habitants continued  peaceably  to  enjoy  their 
Eftates  under  the  Protection  of  the  King, 
A  2  whom 


(     4     ) 

whom  they  had  never  ceafed  to  regard  a$ 
their  lawful  Sovereign. 

From  the  Year  1744  until  1748,  the 
Scene  of  War  was  opened  in  America,  as  it 
had  already  been  in  Europe  ;  but  the  Ob- 
ject of  it  there  was  no  other  than  that 
which  had  already  divided  the  Powers  on  the 
old  Continent.  There  was  then  no  Queftion 
about  the  Limits  of  the  refpe&ive  States,  nor 
about  the  Interpretation  of  the  Treaty  of 
Utrecht,  the  Senfe  of  which,  clear  in  itfelf, 
feemed  the  more  fixed  by  the  peaceable  Pof- 
feflion  of  both  Nations.  Thus  by  the  fifth 
Article  of  the  Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  it 
was  thought  fufficient  to  ftipulate  a  reftituti- 
on  of  all  that  one  Nation  might  have  gained 
by  Conqueft  upon  any  of  its  Neighbours 
fince  the  Beginning  of  the  War.  Nobody 
thought  of  going  as  far  back  as  the  Trea- 
ty of  Utrecht,  and  by  the  ninth  Article  it 
was  agreed,  that  all  Things  ihould  be  refto- 
red  to  the  fame  State  as  they  were,  or  ought 
to  have  been  in,  not  in  1713,  but  before 
the  prefent  War. 

It  was  immediately  upon  the  Back  of  this 
Peace  that  the  Court  of  London  formed  the 
Plan  of  feveral  new  Settlements,  in  which 
they  confulted   rather  the   Interefl  of  their 

own 


own  Commerce,  than  the  Articles  of  thofe 
Treaties  which  were  renewed  by  that  of 
j4ix-la-Chapelle.  The  Settlements  were  pro- 
claimed in  all  their  Gazettes.  It  was  then 
propofed  to  carry  as  far  as  the  river  St.  Law- 
.  rence  fuch  Settlements  as  mould  have  been 
formed  on  the  Coaft  of  Acadia  ;  and  thofe 
projected  towards  Kudfori s  bay,  were  not  to 
be  confined  by  any  Limits. 

The  rumour  of  thefe  Preparations,  and  the 
Importance  of  the  Project  which  they  threate- 
ned, roufed  the  Attention  of  the  King. 
He  fet  forth  his  Claims  in  a  Memorial, 
which"  he  caufed  to  be  lent  to  the  Court 
of  London  in  the  Month  of  y  une  1749, 
and  propofed  the  Nomination  of  CommifTa- 
ries  in  Behalf  of  both  Nations,  who  mould 
fix  in  an  amicable  Way  the  Boundaries  of 
their  refpective  Colonies.  This  Propofal  was 
accepted  -,  and  in  the  Memorial  of  the  Month 
of  y uly  1749,  by  which  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jefty  confented  to  the  Nomination  of  thefe 
CommifTaries,  he  declared  ; 

1  ft.  That  there    was    no  Defign    of  any 

Project  on  the  Side  of  Hud/on  s  Bay.  2d,  That 

he   had  fent  effectual  Orders  forbidding  any 

Attempt  either  towards  Nova-Scotia  or  Hud- 

fon's  Bay  againfi   the    PoiTeffions   or   Comv 

merce 


(     6     ) 

mefceofthc  Subjeds  of  his  Moft  Chriftian 
Majefty.  3dly,  That  he  had  not  given  any 
Orders  F  for  forming  Settlements  in  that 
Part  of  Nova-Scotia  to  which  France  had 
iormed  any  Pretentions. 

The  Settlement  of  Halifax,  which  had 
engaged  the  Attention  of  England  at  that 
Time,  feemed  in  fome  Meafure  to  avouch 
the  Sincerity  of  this  Declaration.  The  Go- 
vernment of  France  could  take  no  Alarms 
from  Supplies  which  feemed  only  deftined 
for  this  riling  City.  It  is  built  on  the  Coaft 
of  Acadia,  at  the  Mouth  of  the  Bay  of 
Chibouctou. 

One  of  the  principal  Stipulations  which 
accompanied  the  Nomination  of  Commiffa- 
rles,  was  that  the  Countries  upon  which 
they  were  to  decide  mould  fuffer  no  Al- 
teration in  the  mean  Time.  This  Stipula- 
tion was  a  Confcquence  of  the  Declaration 
exprefs'd  in  the  Memorial  of  the  Court 
of  London.  Thus  the  French  continued 
to  poffefs  all  the  Land  which  they  had 
conftantly  inhabited  ever  fince  the  Trea- 
ty of  Utrecht,  whether  between  French 
Bay  [Bay  of  Funda]  and  the  river  St.  Law- 
rence, or  in  the  Peninfula  itfelf,  from  Minas 
as  far  as  the  Ifthmus,  and  from  the  Ifthmus 

to 


(    7    ) 

to  the  Bay  of  Chedabouctcu,  As  to  thé 
Banks  of  Belle  Riviere  (Ohio)  and  the  Coun- 
tries fituated  to  the  Weft  of  the  Apalachian 
Mountains,  the  Englifh  had  never  had  any 
Forts  or  trading  Houles  there.  The  Court 
of  London  had  not  even  conceived  any  Pro- 
ject of  an  Eftablifhment  on  that  Side,  and 
there  was  no  Mention  of  that  Country  nei- 
ther in  the  Negotiations  which  preceded  the 
Treaty  of  Utrecht \  nor  in  thofe  which  paved 
the  Way  for  the    Peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

The  Appointment  of  CommifTariea,  and  the 
mutual  Engagement  which  had  preceeded- 
this  Appointment,  gave  room  to  think  that 
the  Court  of  London  would  fend  to  the 
Governors  of  the  Englifh  Colonies  in  Ame- 
rica Orders  conformable  to  the  Meafures 
taken  in  Europe.  Nothing  more  nearly  con- 
cerned the  Tranquility  of  the  two  Nations, 
than  to  put  an  early  Stop  to  thofe  little 
DhTenfions  which  might  in  the  Sequel  oc- 
calîon  Differences  of  moft  ferious  Import. 
We  {hall  pafs  over  lightly  thofe  Broils  which 
happened  before  the  Nomination  of  Com- 
miflàries. 

Mr.  Mafcarens,  Englifh  Commandant,  had 
intended  to  force  the  French  Inhabitants  of 
St,  Jcbns-rivcr  to  take  the  Oath  of  Allege 

ance 


(     8     ) 

ance  to  the  King  of  England.  Intimidated 
by  his  Threats  they  apply'd  to  Count  De  la 
Galijoniere,  who  to  remove  their  Fright,  fent 
them  an  Officer  with  a  fmall  Detatchment 
of  Soldiers  and  Canadian  Militia.  M.  De  la 
Galijfoniere  afterwards  writ  to  M.  Mafcarensi 
not  only  to  complain  of  the  Attempt,  but 
alfo  to  engage  him  to  forbear  thofe  Hoftilities, 
which  the  Englijh  had  continued  againft  the 
Abenaquis,  notwithstanding  their  having  laid 
down  their  Arms  by  Order  of  the  French 
their  Allies,  from  the  very  firft  Intelligence 
of  the  Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle.  Thefe 
Complaints  laid  the  Foundation  of  a  very  fpi- 
rited  Correfpondence,  which  lafted  for  fome 
Time  between  the  Marquis  de  la  Conquière 
and  M.  Cornwallis,  the  Former  of  whom  had 
replaced  the  Count  De  le  Galijjoniere,  and  the 
Latter  M.  Mafcarens  in  1749.  It  was  taken  for 
granted  in  Europe,  that  an  End  had  been  put 
to  thefe  Altercations,  by  the  Orders  which 
the  Court  of  London  declared  in  the  ftrongefl 
Terms  had  been  fent  Jo  the  Governors  of 
the  Englijh  Colonies,  in  Confequence  of  the 
Appointment  of  Commiffaries. 

But  the  Troubles  were  renewed  as  foon  as 
Governour  Cornwallis  thought  himfelf  in  a 
Capacity  to    act    without   referve.      There 

wers 


;  iciit  him  ricm  England  fome  Trodpsj 
hew  Coloniits,  Arms  and  Ammunition  \  where- 
in he  immediately  attempted  to  drive  tl 
French  out  of  that  Country,  againft  which 
his  Britannic  M ajeily  had  given  Affurance 
nothing  mould  be  enterprifed  until  the  Com- 
miflaries  had  come  to  a  Determination. 
,  The  firft  Outrages  were  committed  againft 
the  King's  Subjects  fettled  along  the  North 
Side  of  the  Peninfula.  The  Defign  of  the 
Englijh  Governor  was  to  force  them  to  v/ich- 
draw,  in  order  to  make  room  for  his  ne?r 
Colonifts.  The  moil  of  the  French  Fami- 
lies accordingly  were  obliged  to  abandon 
their  Poffeffions   in    the  Peninfula,   and  flee 

to   feek    refuge    in    ether  Parts    of     New- 

i 
France. 

Encouraged  by  this  Succefs,  Mr.  Cornwal- 
l's had  a  Mind  to  treat  in  the  fame  Man- 
ner the  French  that  were  fettled  without 
the  Peninfula,  on  the  rivers  that  empty  them- 
felves  either  into  the  j  French-Bay,  or  into 
the  Gulf  of  St;  Lawrence.  Thofe  being  con- 
tinually erpofed  to  the  nioii  cruel  Treat- 
it,  having  already  fuffered  Wrongs  and 
Outrages  innumerable,  thought  they  had  a 
right  to  demand  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Jon-  ' 
\uiere  that  Protection  which  hisMajefty  owes 
B  to 

%  The  Bay  of  Fwidy\ 


(  1°  ) 

to  all  his  Subjects .  The  Marquis  de  h 
Conquière  fent  them  a  fniall  Detachment  of 
Soldiers  and  Militia,  under  the  Command 
of  an  Officer,  to  whom  he  gave  particular 
Orders,  not  to  attempt  any  Thing  againft  the 
Englifh  ;  but  only  to  prevent  their  making  any 
Settlement  on  the  Lands  in  the  Pofïcffion 
of  France  ;  and,  above  all,  not  to  erect  any  Sort 
of  Fortification  himfelf.  Nay  further,  the 
Marquis  de  la  Jonquiere  took  care  to  acquaint 
Mr.  Cornwallis  of  the  Step  he  had  taken, 
his  reafons  for  fo  doing,  and  the  Orders  he 
had   given   to   that   Detachment. 

Mr.  Cornwallis  complained  of  that  as  an 
Encroachment  ;  but  as  the  Orders  of  the 
Governors  of  New-France  were  Striftly  ob- 
fervcd,  the  Difpute  went  no  further.* 

A  little  after  this,  two  Things  happen- 
ed which  occasioned  mutual  Complaints,  and 
in  which  the  two  Courts  warmly  interested 
themfelves. 

Mr.  Cornwallis  complained  of  the  Cruel- 
ty with  which  the  Abenaquis  Savages  treat- 
ed the  -EngV.Jh  that  fell  into  their  Hands. 
Thefe  Outrages  he  imputed  to  the  Sug- 
gestions of  the  French,  and  the  Orders  of 
the  Marquis  de  la  Jcnquiere.  The  Marqm§ 
fully  juftified    himfelf  from  that   reproach; 

and 

*    See  No.  z. 


(    M    ) 

î  the  Abenaquis  had  only  gratifi- 
ed their  private  refentment.  After  the  Trea- 
ty of  Aix  la  Chapelle  the  Indians  at  the  re- 
queft  of  the  French  Governor  had  ceafed 
all  Hoftilities,  but  the  Englifo  would  never 
look  on  them  as  comprehended  in  the  gene- 
ral Peace,  but  ftill  continued  to  purfue 
them.  Provoked  at  this,  the  Indians  re- 
venged their  private  Injuries  ;  and  fb  far  was 
the  Marquis  de  la  J'onquiere  from  encoura- 
ging them,  that  he  only  fought  how  to  calm 
their  Fury.  The  Court  of  London  feemed 
fatisfied  with  the  Explications  of  the  Mat- 
ter that  were  fent  to  it,  and  nothing  fitû. 
was  moved  in    that    Affair. 

The  other  Affair  was  more  important  in 
itielf,  and  more  dangerous  in  its  Confe- 
quences.  Some  Months  ago  the  Englijh 
intercepted  all  the  French  Veffels  which  were 
carrying  Provifions  from  Quebec,  either  for 
the  Support  of  the  "Troops  pofted  on  the 
Frontiers  of  Canada,  or  for  cuftomary  Pre- 
fents,  which  the  French  every  Year  make 
the  Indians  in  their  Alliance.  They  feized 
oppofite  to  the  Illand  St.  John,  a  Veffel  from 
Quebec,  called  the  London,  which/ having 
carried  Ammunition  to  Chcdaic  *,  was  re- 
turning empty.  Some  Time  after  they  attacked, 
B  2  and 

See  No.    3. 


(  M*  ) 

and  took  in  the  Mouth  of  the  French  Way, 
-a  Sloop  of  War,  called  the  Saint  Fra> 
commanded  by  a  King's  Officer,  and  ha- 
ving under  its  Convoy  a  Schooner  laden  with 
Provifions  and  Ammunition  for  the  Detach- 
ments on  the  river  St.  Joh?i.  Thefe  Cap- 
tures, and  the  Plundering  of  fome other VeiTels, 
were  the  Subject  of  Complaints  addrefied 
to  the  Court  of  London.  And  as  no  Satisfac- 
tion was  made  to  France,  the  Marquis  de 
la  Jo?2quiere  thought  he  had  a  right  to  make 
reprifals,  and  accordingly  ordered  three  or 
four  EngliJJo  Veffels  to  be  feised  and  con- 
filcated. 

Thefe  Hoftilities  on  the  Sea,  in  which 
you  will  pîeafe  to  cbferve,  the  Engli/h  were 
s  the  Aggreffors,  were  accompanied  with 
feveral  Enterprifes  againft  thofe  Countries,  in 
which  according  to  Agreement,  no  Innova- 
tions  were  to  have  been  made.  In  theMonth 
of 'April,  1750,  General  Çcrmvaïïis  fen t  Major 
"Lawrence  on  an  Expedition  againft  the  French 
Forts  en'  the  Continent,  which  were  com- 
manded by  the  Chevalier  de  Lacorne.  The 
Defign  of  that  Armament  was  inferted  in 
the  Bo/ion  Gazette  in  New-Eng!a?td,  and,  was 
looked  en  as  an  Hoflility  on  the  Part  of  the 
Governor.  The  fame  Year,   in   the   Month 

of 


(     *3     ) 

of  Augujf-,  there  were  Letters  printed  in  Lon- 
don to  this  Effect  :  General  Cornwallis  hath 
r,ot  confined  himieif  to  his  Orders  ;  but  ha- 
ving built  a  Fort  at  Minas>  hath  endeavour- 
ed to  penetrate  into  the  Continent,  and  to 
fecure  Succefs  to  his  Defigrçs,  hath  order- 
ed a  confiderable  Fortification  to  be  railed  at 
a  Place  calie d  Chignitouy  or  Beau-kaJJin,  fitu- 
ated  on  the  Ifthmus,  and  at  the  Head  of  the 
French  Bay.  Thefe  Places  were  certainly  in, 
the  Number  of  thofe  the  Property  of  which 
was  the  Subject  of  Arbitration. 

The  French  Officers,  in  order  to  protect 
the  Countries  they  were  in  Poffeffion  of,  a- 
gainft  an  Invafion  io  openly  avowed,  were 
obliged  to  erect  in  their  Turn  two  little  Forts, 
one  oppoiite  to  Beau-baffin^  at  a  Place  called 
Beau-fejcur  -,  the  other  at  Gajftareaux,  on  the 
Bay  of  Verie^  to  ferve  as  a  Magazine  for  the 
firft,  and  to  fecure  Provisions  for  it  by  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 

What  pafTed  at  the  building  oi  Beau-bqffïn, 
ihewed  the  Necefiîty  of  thefe  two  Forts, 
which  were  defigned  for  a  Security  to  the 
Continent.  ForGeneral  Cornwallis  had  march- 
ed fome  Troops  with  fome  Pieces  of  Cannon 
againft  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Ifthmus,  who 
being  terrified,  fet  Fire  to  thçir  Habitations* 

and 


(     H     ) 

and  betook  themfelves  to  Flight.  What  is 
very  fingular  $  the  Englijh  General,  who  had 
feduced  the  French  and  their  Indian  Allies 
to  that  cruel  Extremity,  had  the  Affurance 
tô  complain  of  an  Hoflility  on  their  Part, 
an  Hoftility  indeed  of  a  -new  Kind,  and  which, 
as  it  appears,  confided  only  in  abandoning 
their  .own  Country  upon  being  invaded  * 
by  powerful  Strangers.  Thefe  Complaints 
therefore  of  Mr.  Cornwallis  only  produced  a 
clearing  up  of  the  Matter,  which  ought  to 
convince  the  King  of  England  of  the  re- 
gular Procedings  '  of  the  Court  of  France, 
and  the  earnefl  Defire  it  had  to  preferve 
Peace. 

The  Confequence  of  that  Explication  was 
a  formal  Declaration  in  which  his  Britannic 
Majefly  aflures  the  King,  that  he  had 
lent  new  Orders  to  attempt  nothing.  The 
King,  on  his  Part ,  repeated  the  Orders  he  had 
already  fent  to  the  Marquis  de  la  Conquière. 

Whether  the  Court  of  London  actually 
took  any  Meafures  to  prevent  General  Corn- 
wallis from  going  any  farther,  or  whether 
the  Vigilance  with  which  the  Marquis  de  la 
Conquière  provided  againft  a  Surprize^  put  a 
Stop  to  the  Proceedings  of  the  E?2glifi>  they 
made  no  more   Attempts  on    that  Side,   but 

kept 
*  See  No. 4. 


(     15     ) 

kept  thcmfelves  within  their  Forts  at  Mi- 
nas and  Beau-boffin  :  And  the  French  remaii  - 
ed  quiet  in  thole  of  Bcau-fejour  and  Gafpa- 
reaux.  From  the  Year  1751,  to  the  Expe- 
dition in  1755,  of  which  we  lhall  give  an 
Account  in  the  Sequel,  that  Part  of  New- 
France  fufFered  nothing  from  the  Neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Englifi  Colonies.  A  good 
Underftanding  feemed  again  to  be  re-eftablifh- 
ed,  fo  that  to  put  an  End  to  the  frequent  Dé- 
ferrions on  that  Frontier,  the  Marquis  du 
êhfefne,  the  Succeflbr  of  the  Marquis  de  la 
Jonquierey  and  Mr.  Hobfon,  who  fucceeded 
General  CornwalliSy  agreed  to  a  Cartel,  which 
was  ftriclly  obferved  from  1752  till  laft 
Year. 

But  if  Tranquility  feemed  to  be  re-efta- 
blifhed  on  the  Side  of  Acadia,  Enterprises 
and  Hoftilities  were  multiplied  on  another 
Side,  in  which  the  Preiervation  of  Ca- 
nada- was  not  lefs  concerned.  To  fix  th§ 
Origin  and  Date  of  thefe  Troubles,  it  h 
neceffary  to  go  back  a  little  farther  than  the 
Treaty  of  Aix4a-Chapei, 

The  Ohio,  or  La  bi  'iere,  as  it  is  fome- 

times  called;  forms  a  d  Communication 

between  Canada  and  •//?,  by  tîu    ' 

Erie,  the  French  bej  denied  both  ta 

->  ver 


V" 


4  m  J 

difcover  and  preferve  that  Communication5 
were  the  Firft  that  traced  out  the  whole 
Courfe  of  that  river,  part  of  which  was  vi- 
fited  bv  M.  de  la  Salle  a  Gentleman  of  Nor- 
mandy,  in  the  Year  1679.  ^In  1712,  the  King 
in  his  Letters  Patent  for  the  Settling  of  Lcui- 
fiana,  comprehended  the  river  Wahajh,  which 
empties  itielf  into  the  Ohio,  and  in  gene- 
ral all  the  rivers  that  fall  into  the  MiJJiJfi- 
pi  Since  that  Time,  the  Chio  has  never 
been  frequented  by  any  but  the  French  • 
nor  did  the  Englijh  ever  make  any  Preten- 
tions to  the  Lands  watered  by  it.  The  Apa- 
lachian  Mountains  have  always  been  looked 
on   as  the    Bounds  of  their  Colonies.     , 

The  Englijh  Miniftry,  who  neglected  no 
Means  of  leffening  the  Trade  of  France,  had 
for  fome  Time  paft  envied  it  that  advantage- 
ous Communication.  In  1749  feme  Englijh 
Traders  began  a  contraband  Trade  on  that 
river  •  and  it  was  difcovered  that  they  pri- 
vately llirred  up  the  Indians  to  a  War  with 
the  French.  Whereupon  the  Count  de  la 
Galijfoniere  fent  thither  M.  Celoron,  an  Of- 
ficer from  Canada,  with  Orders,  not  to  ufe 
any  Violence  againfc  thofe  ftrange  Traders, 
but  only  to  enjoin  them  to  withdraw,  and, 
in  Cafe  of  their   obftinate  Continuance,   to- 

feize 


(  n  ) 

fcizc    their    Goods.     That    Enjoimnent    had 
all    the  Effects  that   could  be    defired  :    The 
Englift  Traders  were  obliged  to  remove,   and 
were  ftri&ly  charged  never  to  return  thither, 
M.  Celeron  alio,  upon   ionic  of  the   Traders 
producing  their    Commiflions  from    the  Go- 
vernor of  Pennfylvani4y  gave  them  a  Letter 
for  him  -y    and  in   it  he  acquainted   the  Go- 
vernor   of  what  had  paffed,    and  prayed  him 
not  only  not  to  grant  any  iuch  Commiihons  for 
the  Future,  but  alio  to  put  a  Scop  to  that  con- 
traband Trade  which  was  carried  on  by  the 
EngliJJj  of  his  Government,  on  the  Lands  of 
the  King. 

M.  Celeron  was  no  fooner  gone  from  la 
Belle  Riviere,  than  the  Englijh  Traders  re- 
turned in  Crouds.  They  had  Orders  from 
the  Government  to  excite  the  Indians  to 
take  up  Arms  againft  France,  nay,  they  even 
brought  them  Arms  and  Ammunition.  In 
1750  the  Marquis  de  la  Conquière  was  obli- 
ged again  to  fend  different  Detachments, 
always  with  the  fame  Orders,  not  to  ufc 
any  Violence  againil  the  Englijh,  and  to 
keep  in  Awe  the  Indians  that  had  revolted. 
Accordingly  they  were  ufed  with  all  Gen- 
tienefs  :  However  to  prevent  the  Progrcfs 
•f  that    contraband  Trade,    it  was    thought 

C  neccfliry 


(     i8     ) 

neceffary  to  feize  four  EngHJh  Traders,  who 
in  Spite  of  the  Prohibition  continued  the 
Trade,  and  who  heretofore  had  .  been  ve- 
ry much  fufpected  of  having  endeavoured 
to  make  the  Indians  revolt.  They  were  con- 
ducted to  Canada  :  The  Marquis  de  la  Jonquiere 
himfelf  queftioned  them,  and  their  An- 
fwers  '*  convinced  him  of  the  Certainty  of 
the  Advice  he  had  received.  It  was  pro- 
ved that  the  Governor  of  Pennfyhania  had 
actually  fent  Arms  and  Ammunition  and 
other  Prefents  to  the  Indians  to  excite  them 
to  a  War.  Hereupon  the  Marquis  de  la 
Jcnquiere  without  Helitation  fent  thefe  four 
EngHJh  Men  to  France,  and  they  were  kept 
fome  time  Prifoners  at  Rochelle.  My  Lord 
Albemarle,  who  was  then  EngHJh  EmbafTa- 
dor,  and  to  whom  they  applied  for  Pro- 
tection, folicited  their  Liberty,  without  com- 
plaining of  the  reafon  for  which  they 
were  deprived  of  it.  The  King  ordered 
them  to  be  difcharged,  and  fome  Money  al- 
fo  to  be  given  them  :  For  which  my  Lord 
Albemarle  thanked  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Marine,  as  for  a  perfonal  Favour. 

The  Moderation  v/ith  which  the  French 
had  conducted  themfelves,  ferved  to  em- 
bolden  the   Indians   on  Ohio,  infomnch  that 

there 
*  See  No.  j* 


(     *9     ) 

there  was    room  to  fear   a   generr.l  Cortfp; 
cy    of  thofe    People,   to    whom   the  I 
had   promifed  all  kinds  of  Succour.    Never- 
theless  the   Marquis   de  la  Jonquiere   did  no 

re  in    1751    than   he  had   done  in  1750, 

.   the    Detcchmcnts  that  were    lent  difco- 
vered  Things    were    in    a    very  great 

Ferment,  the  ill  Effects  of  which  i::  was  ab- 
foluteiy  neceflary  to  prevent  with  all  Expe- 
dition. The  Governor  of  Canada  convinced 
that  the  Colony  was  threatned  with  an  In- 
vafion  of  Indians,  was  preparing  to  march 
a  more  confiderable  Body  of  Troops  in  or- 
der to  keep  them  in  Awe,  when  he  died 
in  the  Month  of  March  1752. 

The  Marquis  du  Que/ne  his  SuccefTor  ar- 
rived at  Quebec  fome  Months  after.  Finding 
the  Colony  in  the  greateft  Alarm,  he  made 
all  haft  to  carry  into  Execution  the  Defigns 
of  the  Marquis  de  la  Jonquiere  y  but  feveral 
Things  having  retarded  the  March  of  the  De- 
tachments, all  that  M.  de  Saint  Pierre,  who 
had  the  Command  of  it,  could  do,  was 
to  erect  at  a  fmall  Diftance  from  Lake 
Erie,  a  Blockhoufe,  in  which  he  palled  the 
Winter,  from  1753  to   1754. 

There    he  remained  quiet  till  the   Month 

qf  Qtftober   1753,  when   he  received  a  Letter 

C  2  from 


(       20       ) 

from  the  Governor  of  Virginia^  fummoR* 
ing  him  to  withdraw.  To  this  he  only 
anfwer'd,  that  he  was  on  French  Ground,  and 
by  the  Order  of  his  General,  to  whom  he  was 
going  to  difpatch  that  Summons  \,  As  to 
the  reft  of  his  Condudt,  he  treated  with  all 
Politenefs  the  Englijlo  Officer  who  brought 
him  the    Letter. 

The  Marquis  du  Quefne  at   the  fame  Time 
that  he    was    informed  of  this  Step   of  the 
Governor  of  Virginia,  received  Advice  from 
all  Parts  of   the    Preparations    the     EngliJJj 
Colonies  were  making  to  attack  the   French, 
under   Pretence    of  fuccouring   the   Indians. 
Thefe  Preparations  were  approved  of  by  the 
Court  of  London,  in    as    much   as  they  were 
publifhed  in    all  the  Englifo    Gazettes    fines 
that  Time,  even  to  the  Harangues  by  which 
the  Governors  of  New-England  and  Virginia 
laboured    to  engage  the    Indians  to  a   War 
with    the  French. 

The  Ejiglifld  had  already  paffed  thedpalachi- 
®n  Mountains  with  an  Army  and  fome  Pieces  of 
Cannon,  when  M.  deContiecœur,  who  had  ta- 
ken the  Command  of  that  Detachment,  which 

fprmeriy 

-)•  The  Governors  Letter,  and.  M.  dc  Saint 
Pierre's  Anfwer,  were  fomelime  ago  injerted  in 
the  public  News  Papers  in  London, 


(  21  ) 

formerly  bolonged   to   M.  de   Saint    Pierre, 
advanced   in   the   Spring    of  the  Year    1754, 
with  five  or  fix  Hundred  Men    towards   the 
Ohio.     He  found    the    Rnglijh  actually  en- 
trenched  in    a   little    Fort   which   they   had 
built  between    the   Ohio  and    Riviere   le  Beuf 
[French  Creek].    They  did  not    exceed  fifty 
in    Number,  and  were  commanded  by  Capt. 
Trent.     They  were        iummoned  to    depart 
immediately  out.  of  the  Lands  belonging  to 
France.     They,  obeyed  and  quietly  evacuated 
their    Fort  ;    they  alio  prayed   M.  de  Contie- 
cœur  to  give  them   fome   Provifions,    which 
they    were  in  want  of  :  He  ordered  them  à 
plentiful  Supply,  and  deftroyed  their  Fort. 

Having  continued  his  March  to  the  Ohio, 
he  found  on  its  Banks  the  Traces  of  a  Fort 
which  the  Rnglijh  intended  to  build,  but 
which  they  had  no  doubt  abandoned  at  the 
News  of  his  Approach  -,  there  he  fettled 
and  fortified  himielf.  As  they  were  work- 
ing at  the  Entrenchments  of  that  Fortifica- 
tion, which  they  called  Fort  du  Que/ne,  M. 
de  Contiecœur  was  informed  that  a  confid ér- 
able Body  of  Forces  was  marching  towards 
him.  Hereupon  he  charged  M.  de  Jumo?:- 
ville  with  a  written  Summons,  in  form  of  a 
Letter,    directed  to  thq  firft   Rnglijh  Officer 

he 
||     See  No.  6, 


(      22      ) 

he  fhould  meet  ||.  It  was  dated  the  23d  of 
May y  1754,  and  was  almoft  of  the  fame 
Tenor  with  the  Summons  before  fent  to 
Captain  Trent.  He  allured  the  Englifli 
that  no  Violence  would  be  offered  them, 
and  furthermore  delired  the  Englijh  Com- 
mander to  return  his  Anfwer  by  M.  de  Ju- 
monville,  and  to  treat  that  Officer  with  that 
Diftinftion  and  refpeâ:  which  he  deferved. 

That  Deputy  fet  out  with  an  Efcort  of 
thirty  Men,  and  the  next  Morning  found  him- 
felf  furrounded  by  a  Number  of  Englijh 
and  Indians  :  The  Englïfo  quickly  fired  two 
Vollies,  which  killed  fome  Soldiers.  M9 
yumonville  made  a  Sign  that  he  had  a 
Letter  from  his  Commander,  hereupon  the 
Fire  ceafed,  and  they  furrounded  the  French 
Officer,  in  order  to  hear  it.  He  immedi- 
ately ordered  the  Summons  to  be  read,  and, 
as  it  was  reading  the  fécond  Time,  the  En~ 
glijh  affaffinated  him.  The  reft  of  the  French 
that  efcorted  him  were  upon  the  Spot  made 
Prifonersof  War.  The  only  one  who  efcaped, 
and  who  gave  M.  de  Contiecœur  a  circumftan- 
tial  Account  of  that  Affair,  affured  him,  that 
the  Indians  who  were  with  the  Engiif/i  had 
not  fired  a  Gun,  and  that  at  the  Inftant 
M.  <k  Jumonville  was  affaffinated,  they  threw 

themfelves 
See  No.  7. 


(     23     ) 

themfelves  in  between  the  French  and  their 
Enemies. 

That  Murder  produced  an  Effect  in  the 
Minds  of  the  Indians,  which  Major  Wajh- 
i?igtony  who  was  at  the  Head  of  that  En- 
glijh  Detachment,  did  not  in  the  leaft  ex- 
pect. Even  thofe,  who  by  the  Suggeflicns 
of  the  Englijh  had  been  moft  animated  a- 
gainft  the  French,  came  and  offer'd  to  go 
themfelves  and  revenge   that    Crime. 

The  Marquis  du  Qnefne  would  not  ac- 
cept the  Offer  of  a  Nation  always  cruel  in 
their  Vengeance.  He  imagined  at  firft  that 
th3  Englijh  would  difavow  the  Fact,  and 
throw  it  upon  the  Fiercenefs  of  fome  Tra- 
ders ;  but  it  has  been  fince  proved  that  nothing 
was  done  but  by  the  Orders  of  the  Go- 
vernors of  the  Englijh  Colonies.  We  have 
the  original  Journal  jj  of  Major  JVaJlnngtony 
from  which  it  is  apparent  that  what  he  did 
was  by  Virtue  of  exprefs  Orders  which  he 
had  received.  It  was  a  Thing  before  agreed 
upon  to  attack  the  French  wherever  they 
could  be  met  with. 

As  the  Englijh  made  no  Satisfaction  to 
M.  Contiecœury  he,  upon  receiving  Instructions 
from  the  Marquis  du  Quejney  endeavoured  to 
difcover  the  Place  where   the  Murderers  had 

retired 
|j  See  No.  3. 


(     H     ) 

retired  to.  '  He  was  informed  that  Major 
Wajhington^  with  his  Detachment  wai  in  a 
little  Fort  which  the  Englijh  had  built,  and 
called,  Fort  NeceJ/ity>  where  he  waited  the 
Arrival  of  fome  new  Troops  that  were 
deftined  to  come  and  attack  Fort  du  Que/ne* 
He  thereupon  fent  out  a  Detachment  to  re- 
cover, if  poffible  the  French  Prifoners,  or 
at  leaft  to  oblige  the  Englijh  to  withdraw 
from  the  Lands  belonging  to  the  French. 
M.  de  Villiers  the  Brother  of  M.  de  Ju- 
monville  was  charged  with  that  Commiffion, 
and  the  Inftructions  given  him  were  entire- 
ly confined  to  that.  He  was  alfo  exprefly 
commanded,  not  to  ufe  any  Violence,  if  the 
Englijh    would   withdraw. 

He  left  Fort  du  Qy.efne  the  28th  oî  June, 
and  having  paffed  the  Place  where  the  Mur- 
der was  committed,  and  where  the  Bodies 
of  the  French  ftill  lay,  he  arrived  the  third 
of  July  in  fight  of  Fort  NeceJJity.  The  En- 
glijh who  were  without  the  Fort,  fired  a 
Volley,  and  retired  into  it.  The  Fort  was 
immediately  inverted,  and  attacked  :  The  Fire 
was  very  hot,  but  M.  Villiers  put  a  Stop  to 
it  about  eight  o'  Clock  at  Night,  in  order 
to  propofe  to  the  Englijh  a  Surrender,  to 
avoid    an    Affault,    which  would  have  ex 


pofed 


(     25     ) 

poled  them  to  all  the  Cruelties  of  the  In- 
,\  in  fpight  of  the  French.  The 
Propofal  was  accepted,  and  the  Capitulation 
drawn  up.  The  French  would  not  make 
them  Priibners,  becaufe  they  did  not  lock 
on  thcmfelves  as  at  War.  They  only  de- 
manded that  thofe  who  elcorted  M.  Jumon- 
vil/e  mould  be  returned.  Major  Wafting- 
ton  engaged  to  fend  them  to  Fort  du  £>uejhey 
and  gave  Hostages  for  the  Performance  of 
his  Promife.  In  fine  the  Fnglijh  were  fuf- 
fered  to  depart  with  one  Piece  of  Cannon, 
and  all  their  Effects  *.  They  themfelves 
acknowledged  in  the  firft  Article  of  that  Ca- 
pitulation, that  the  Defign  of  the  French  was 
only  to  revenge  the.AJfaJjination  of  a  French 
Officer  the  Carrier  of  a  Summons.  The  Capi- 
tulation being  figned,  and  the  Fort  evacuated, 
the  French  destroyed  it,  and  returned  to  Fort 
du  Quefne  with  the  two  Hoftages. 

But  that    Agreement,  to   which    {even  or 

eight     hundred    EnglifJo     Men    ov/ed    their 

Lives,  was  by  no  Means   executed  on  their 

Part.     The  Priioners  were  never  lent  back  to 

Fort  du    ^uefne.     Out    of  twenty  that  were 

en,    feven     have   been    fent   to   England} 

where    they  arrived   feparately,  after  having 

fuffer'd  the  moft  unworthy  Treatment.     Up- 

D  on 

?ee   No.  9, 


(     26     ) 

©n   their   Arrival,  they  implored  the  Affift- 
anCe  of  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  who  fent  them 
over  to  France  at  the  Expence  of  the  King. 
What  is  become  of  the  reft  we   are  altoge- 
ther ignorant  ? 

Perhaps  the  Motive  which  induced  the 
Englijh  to  detain  the  Prifoners  was  a  Piece 
of  Cunning  on  their  Part.  The  French  would 
have  made  no  Hefitation  in  fending  back 
the  Hoftages  immediately  ;  but  thefe  had 
their  Orders,  and  their  Stay  at  Fort  du  Quejne 
was  too  advantageous  for  the  Englijh  to 
think    of  having  them  removed. 

Thefe  Hoftages  named,  the  one  Jacob  Am- 
brarte,  and  the  other  Robert  Stobo,  were  two  very 
crafty  Spies,  and  found  Means  to  carry  on  a 
Correfpondence  with  the  Englijh  Generals. 
There  were  found  among  the  Papers  which 
fell  into  the  Hands  of  the  French  after  the 
Battle  of  the  çth  of  July,.  1755,  the  Let- 
ters which  Robert  Stobo,  one  of  the  Hofta- 
ges had  written  to  Major  Wajhin  gfon.  %  That 
of  the  28th  of  July,  to  which  is  annexed  an 
exact  Plan  of  Fort  du  £)itejney  which  he  had 
himfelf  drawn,  deferves  above  all  a  careful 
Perufal.  In  it  that  Spy  gives  a  very  juft  Ac- 
count of  the  Situation  the  French  were  then 
m?   their  Number,   and   their   Forces  :    He 

mews 
X  See  No.  ig. 


(       27       ) 

fhcws  both  the  Time  when  the  Etiglifk 
might  attack  the  Fort,  and  the  fu reft  Way 
to  make  themfclves  Mafters  of  it.  Lut 
what  is  particularly  to  be  remarked  in 
that  Letter,  is,  that  notwithstanding  that  I7;;- 
glijhman  feemed  to  be  animated  with  Fury 
againft  the  French,  yet  he  is  obliged  to  do 
Juftice  to  their  peaceable  Difpoiitions. 

The  Engliffo  were  quite  of  a  different  Tem- 
per. Major  Wafoington  did  not  dare  to  at- 
tempt any  Thing,  becaufe  he  had  not  For- 
ces enough  -,  but  from  that  Time  all  the 
EngliJIj  Colonies  were  in  Motion  to  execute 
the  Plan  of  a  general  Invafion,  formed  and 
fent  from  London,  at  a  Time  when  the 
Commiflarics  of  the  Englljh  Nation  at  Paris 
feemed  to  have  nothing  more  at  Heart  than 
to  concur  with  thofe  of  the  King  in  fettling 
a  Plan  of  Agreement. 

The  Facts  which  I  am  now  going  to  re- 
late, deferve  a  very  ferious  Attention.  It  is 
with  regret  they  are  published  ;  but  the  In- 
tereft  of  Truth  requires  it  ;  bcfides,  it  is  ne- 
ceffary  that  Europe,  which  is  threatned  with 
a  bloody  War,  mould  at  length  know  the 
true  Authors  of  a  rupture,  the  Confequen- 
ces  of  which  cannot  but  be  fatal. 

On.  the  28th  of  Augufi,   1753,  the  King  of 
D  2*  Great* 


25 


J 


Great-Britain  fent  the  feveral  Governors  of  the 
Englijh  Colonies  Orders  refpecling  the  Man- 
ner in  which  they  ought  to  conduce  thern- 
feives  with  regard  to  the  French,  As  we  have 
not  the  Orders,  we  can  only  judge  of  their 
Contents,  by  the  Behaviour  of  the  Eng/i/h. 
From  the  Inftruclions  of  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jefty,  found  among  the  Papers  of  General 
Braddock,  we  learn,  that  he  exhorted  the 
Governors  to  unite  their  Endeavours  for  car- 
rying into  Execution  a  ftudied  and  precon- 
certed Plan. 

On  the  3d  of  July^  1754,  his  Britannic 
Majefty  gave  new  Orders,  for  the  Execu- 
tion of  which,  he  fent  the  Governor  of 
Virginia  ten  thoufand  Pounds  fterling,  with 
Liberty  to  draw  on  England  for  ten  thoufand 
Pounds  more. 

On  the  25th  and  26th  of  October,  1 754, 
and  on  the  4th  of  November  of  the  fame  Year, 
the  King  of  England  wrote  to  the  Governors 
of  the  Englijh  Colonies  other  Letters,  which 
contained  Schemes  of,  military  Operations, 
iince  one  of  the  InftruCtions  given  the  25th 
of  November  IJ54.  to  General  Braddock  is, 
to  confult  thofe  Letters  and  to  ad  agreeable 
thereto. 

All  this  could  not  be  the  Effect  or  Con- 

fequence 


(     &9     ) 

fequer.ce  of  the  Quarrels  that  happened  at 
the  Ohio:  For  it  was  impoffible  that  the 
News  of  them  could  have  yet  reached 
Ion*. 

Here  then  is  a  Plan  formed,  and  Operations 
commanded.  But  what  thofe  Operations  were, 
iz   is  of   Importance  to  examine. 

In  the  Month  of  September ,  1754,  Colonel 
Braddock  was  nominated  by  his  Britannic 
Majefly,  General  of  all  the  Forces  that 
were  or  that  mould  be  fent  to  North-A- 
merica. Immediately  the  Troops  prepared 
to  embark  in  Ireland,  which  alarmed  France. 
We  (lull  fee  prcfentlv  whether  there  was 
any   Foundation    for  Miftruft. 

Commodore  Keppel  was  appointed  to  com- 
mand the  Fleet,  which  was  to  favour  the 
Attempts  they  had  determined  to  make  by 
Land  ;  and  when  the  VeiTels  were  juft  rea- 
dy to  fet  fail,  the  King  caufed  to  be  drawn  up 
and  iîgnedat  St.  James's,  on  the  25th  of  No- 
vember, an  Inftrudion,  containing  thirty  Ar- 
ticles. 

As  it  referred  to  the  Orders  which  had 
been  before  given  to  the  Governors  of  the 
Colonies,  it  does  not  contain  a  circumftan- 
tial  Account  of  the  Operations  intruftcd  to 
the  General.      There  we  fee   that   he  was 

commanded 


(     3°     ) 

commanded  to  execute  a  Plan,  for  doing 
which,  he  was  to  ad:  in  Concert  both  with 
Mr.  Kcppel,  and  the  Governors  of  the  Colo- 
nies -,  that,  that  Plan  contained  a  Train  of 
military  Expeditions,  of  which  he  was  to 
render  an  Account  to  the  Minifter  who  was 
charged  with  fending  him  fuller  Orders  from 
Time  to  Time. 

The  Duke  of  Cumberland,  to  whom,  as  it 
appears,  his  Britannic  Majefly  committed 
the  Arrangement  of  the  general  Plan,  caufed 
to  be  drawn  up  more  particular  Inftrudtions 
for  General  Braddock.  They  were  contain- 
ed in  a  long  Letter  which  was  written  to 
him  by  Colonel  Napier,  in  the  Name  of  his 
Royal  Highnefs,  and  which  was  dated  the  fame 
2  5th  Day of  November,  1754.  That  Letter  ||, 
which  deferves  a  particular  Attention,  con- 
tains the  Order  and  Succeflîon  of  thofe 
Operations,  which  had  been  concerted  long 
before  at  the  Court  of  London,  I  fay  long  be- 
fore :  For  indeed  Colonel  Napier  begins  with 
informing  General  Braddock,  who  was  then 
in  Ireland,  that  the  Ihftrudtions  he  was  go- 
ing  to  give  him  in  writing,  were  only  the 
refult  of  thofe  which  his  Royal  Highnefs 
had  himfelf  given  the  General  in  the  feveral 
Converfations   he  had  with   him. 

I 
|j  See  No.  12. 


(     3»     ) 

I  fhall  not  here  enter  upon  a  Detail  of 
all  that  is  contain'd  in  that  Letter  of  Inflec- 
tions. It  does  more  Honour  to  the  Abilities 
Df  the  General  of  an  Army,  than  to  the 
[mentions  of  the  Prince  in  whole  Name  it 
was  written.  From  that  authentic  Piece, 
t  is  apparent,  that  for  certain  in  the  Month 
>f  November,  1754,  and  very  likely  many 
tionths  before,  it  was  refolved  on  in  Eng- 
and  to  attack  Canada  on  all  Sides,  and 
hat  the  Method  of  doing  it,  was  fettled  and 
nade  known  to  the  feveral  Commanders 
vhofe  united  Endeavours  were  all  to  be  di- 
ected  to  the  fame  Object.  We  fee  that 
General  Braddock  was  to  make  himfelf  Maf- 
er  of  Fort  du  £{uef?iey  thence  proceed  to 
Viagara,  and  to  reduce  that  Place  ;  that  Fort 
tyederic  was  to  be  attacked,  and  carried  by 
he  Provincial  Troops ,  and,  finally,  that  Co- 
onel  Lawrence  was  charged  with  reducing 
7ort  Beau-fejour  in  the  Ifthmus,  and  that  all 
hefe  Expeditions  were  to  be  feconded  by 
he  Motion  of  the  Fleet.  The  conquered 
Countries  were  afterwards  to  be  protected 
)y  fome  Forts  which  they  intended  to  build, 
ind  the  Troops  aftej  a  Campaign,  the  Opera- 
ions  of  which  were  {0  well  fettled,  were 
:o  be  quartered  in  Places  where  they  could 

afSft 


■    (     3*     ) 

âffift  each  other  to  execute,  no  Dcubt,  the 
Sequel  of  the  general  Plan,  and  thefe  fuller 
Orders  which  were  promifed  the  General. 

While  the  Minifters  of  Great-Britain  en- 
deavoured to  amuie  the  Court  of  France, 
and  in  the  Négociation  that  was  then  car- 
rying on,  feemed  to  fhew  the  mofl  earneft 
Defire  to  preierve  Peace,  General  Braddcck, 
in  Concert  with  Commodore  Keppel,  Colo- 
nel Shirley ,  and  the  Governors  of  the  En- 
glijh  Colonies,  laboured  vigoroufly  in  Ame- 
rica to  haften  the  Preparations  for  War. 
What  I  am  going  to  mention  of  thefe  Pre- 
parations, is  taken  from  the  General's  own 
Letters.  They  form  a  very  lingular  Contrail 
with  the  Memorials  which  were  fome  Time 
ago  delivered  to  the  French  Amh^Sador  at  Lon-Ï 
don ,  and  which  I  mail  not  take  Notice  of,j 
till  I  have  firft  given  a  full  Account  or 
what  paffed  in  America,  after  the  Arrival  of 
General  Braddock.  j 

He  landed  at  William/burg,  the  Capital  oil 
Virginia,  in  the  Month  of  February ■,  1755  *J 
All  the  Governors  of  the  feveral  EngliJÈ 
Provinces  had  already  received  their  Orders! 
which  principally  concerned  the  railing  o 
Troops  and  Money.  A  common  Fund  wa 
to  be  eftablifhed,  for  defraying  the  Expence 

o 
*  See  No.   13. 


(     33     ) 

of  fb  important  a  Campaign.  As  to  the  reftj 
they  were  ordered  to  execute  whatever  was 
prescribed  to  them  by  the  General,  whofe 
Abilities  for  War,  deferved  to  have  been  em- 
ployed in  a  better  Caufe. 

He  found  at  Williamjburg  Sir  John  St  Clairb 
who  gave  him  an  Account  of  the  Difpoii- 
tion  of  the  Colonies,  and  Situation  of  the 
Troops.  The  Indépendant  Companies  of 
New-Vorky  were  in  a  very  bad  Condition  ; 
and  among  the  Provinces,  Pemifyhania  and 
Maryland  were  far  from  furnifhing  their 
Quota.  They  had  no  Occafion  to  complain 
of  their  Neighbours  the  Frencby  and  they 
were  not  willing  to  interrupt  an  Harmony 
that  was  advantageous  to  their  Trade  and 
Commerce.  The  Orders  of  the  Court  of 
London,  and  the  Letters  which  the  Gene- 
ral  wrote  upon  his  Arrival,  had  a  greater 
Effed:  upon  the  other  Colonies.  In  order 
to  haften  the  raifing  of  Money,  the  General 
engaged  to  make  himfelf  accountable  for  the 
Manner  in  which  it  fliould  he  expended.  M. 
Dinwiddie,  Governor  of  Virginia,  had  found 
Means  to  raife  20,000  Pounds  fterling.  His 
Example  kindled  an  Emulation  in  the  other 
Governors  ;  accordingly  the  Aflemblies  of  the 
E  Colonies 


(     34     ) 

Colonies    were  called  to    meet  the  Month  of 
May  next  enfuing. 

General  Braddock  appointed  Alexandria  for 
the  rendezvous  of  the  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land Troops  ;  and,  inftead  of  quartering  thole 
he  had  brought  from  Europe,  as  he  at  firft 
intended,  he  ordered  the  Tranfport  Vef- 
fels  to  fail  up  the  river  Potomack,  and  to 
land  them  at  Alexa?idria,  in  order  to  form 
a  Camp  there  ||.  In  the  mean  Time  he 
took  Care  to  eftablifh  Pofts,  that  he  might 
maintain  a  fure  Correfpondence  between  the  1 
Army  and  the  Cities  of  Philadelphia,  Annapo- 
lis, and  Williamjhurg.  But  as  it  was  impof- 
fîble  to  find  Forage  beyond  the  Mountains, 
before  the  latter  End  of  April,  he  refolved  not 
to  begin  his  Expedition   till   that    Time. 

In  the  Interim,  no  Time   was  loft.    'The 
General  had   begun    with    fhutting   up   the 
Ports,    in    order,  fays    he,  that  no    Provi/icns 
may  be  carried  to  the  Enemy.     To  this  was  ad-  I 
cd  another  Advantage,, of  keeping  all  Things  | 
Secret,     while     they   raifed    recruits,     tran- 
iportcd  the  Artillery,  and  formed  Magazines 
df  all    necefiary   Provifions    and   Munitions.  | 
General    Braddock    and    Commodore    Kep-  I 
pel  continually  communicated  to  each  other  It 
their   Views    and  Projects  :  The  Latter  fur-. 

nifhed 
{j  See  No,    13. 


V       65       J 

nifhcd  fomc  Cannon,  of  which  the  Land 
Armv  had  not  a  fufficient  Number.  Thefc 
two  principal  Men,  were  divided  in  one  fin- 
gle  Point,  which  was,  how  they  mould  treat 
the  French^  whom  they  were  quite  fure  of  ta- 
king. The  King  of  England  had  ordered 
them  "to  be  put  on  board  the  Fleet  and 
fent  to  France.  M.  Keppel,  who  had  not 
been  apprized,  but  by  General  Braddock,  of 
that  refolution,  found  it  a  very  nice  Affair 
for  him.  Hitherto  he  had  foilowed  limply 
the  Directions  of  the  Court,  yet  he  was 
well  afliired  of  the  Deiire  of  the  Nation.  He 
wanted  however,  to  have  it  in  his  Power  to 
juflify  himlelf,  in  cafe  the  Nation  fhould 
one  Day  di (approve  of  thefe  Violences,  fo 
contrary  to  the  Law  of  Nations,  and,  there- 
fore, he  demanded  of  the  General  to  fend 
him  politive    Orders. 

As  the  Number  of  the  Forces  could  not 
be  too  great  with  which  they  intended  to  fail 
upon  Canada,  on  the  one  Hand  the  Gover- 
nors had  Orders  to  receive  all  French  De- 
ferters,  to  treat  them  well,  and  to  furnifh 
them  with  every  Thing  that  they  wanted  : 
On  the  the  other  Hand,  Pains  were  taken  to 
acquaint  the  Indians  on  Ohio,  that  the  En- 
glifi  had  no  other  Defign,  but  to  defend 
E   2  them 


(     36     ) 

them  againft  the  Encroachments  of  the  French. 
And  the  Governors  of  the  Provinces  did  not 
fail  to  prefs  them  to  repair  to  Wills-Creek, 
on  the  Frontiers  of  Virginia.  However,  we 
can  fay,  in  general,  the  EngUJh  had  very  lit- 
tle Afliftance  from  thofe  People.  The  Iro- 
quois [the  five  Nations]  did  not  in  the  leaft 
affift  them.  By  M.  Braddock\  Letters  we 
fee,  that,  of  the  five  Nations,  none  but  the 
Anie%  [Mohawks]  feemed  to  fhew  any  At- 
tachment to   them. 

What  Means  fhould  be  ufed  in  order  to 
engage  the  hidians  to  take  up  Arms  againft 
the  French^  and  to  ravage  their  Colonies, 
was  one  of  thofe  Things  which  were  de- 
bated in  a  grand  Council  held  at  Alexan- 
dria, about  the  Middle  of  April.  On  the 
13  th,  Colonel  Shirley,  Governor  of  New-En-? 
gland,  arrived  in  that  Town,  He  was  ac- 
companied with  all  the  other  Governors, 
and  with  Colonel  Johnfon,  who,  of  all  the 
Englijh  Officers 5 was  the  beft  acquainted  with 
the  Genius  of  the  Indians,  and  the  Manner 
of  treating  with  them.  Mr.  Shirley,  if  we, 
believe  Colonel  Napier  s  Inftructions,  was 
fitter  for  Council,  than  for  Command.  How- 
ever, he  had  with  an  armed  Force  built  a 
Fort  in,  the    French  Country,   up  the  river 

Nourentfouac 


(     37     ) 

Nourentfouac  [Kennebec]  about  30  Leagues 
from  Quebec  ;  that  Expedition,  no  Doubt, 
gained  him  the  Friendmip  of  the  General, 
who  had  always  a  particular  regard  for  him, 
and  who,  as  we  (hall  fee,  trufted  him  with 
one  of  the  moft  important  Commands.  He 
had  already  had  an  Interview  with  him  at 
Annapolis,  in  Maryland,  and  very  likely  they 
had  fettled  between  themfelves  Part  of  thole 
Things  which  were  the  Subject  of  Deli- 
beration in  the  general  Council  at  Alexan- 
dria. A  Copy  of  the  refolutions  there  taken, 
was  fent  to  M.  Robin/on,  Secretary  of  State, 
in  a  Letter  which  the  General  wrote  to  him 
the  19th  of  April.  That  Letter  informs 
us,  that  the  Plan  of  Operations  for  the  Cam- 
paign was  there  finifhed.  They  feemed  fo 
well  connected  together;  that  M.  Braddock  is 
not  afraid  to  fay,  that  the  Succefs  of  one,  ajfured 

him  of  the   happy   IJfue  of  all  the   rejl\\. 

And  there  might  be  reafon  for  his  writing 
fo  ;  for  the  ill  Succefs  of  one,  has  made  all  the 
reft  to  mifcarry.  Here  then  are  the  different 
Parts  of  the  Plan,  as  they  were  fettled  at  that 
Congrefs. 

1/?,  It  was  agreed,  that  in   Purfuance  of 
the  Plan  concerted  between  M.  Shirley  and 

Mr. 

||  See  his  Letter  of  the  1  gtb  of  April  in  No.  13. 


(     38     ) 

Mr.  Lawrence,  Governor  of  Acadia,  and  for- 
merly fent  to  the  Court  of  London,  Colonel 
Monckton  fhould,  without  Delay,  attack  the 
French  Forts  on  the  Side  of  Acadia,  His 
Orders  for  that  Expedition  were  immedw 
ately    difpatched  to  him. 

id,  It  was  agreed  that  Mr.  Johnfon,  with 
a  Body  of  about  four  Thoufand  four  Hun- 
dred  Men,  raifed  in  the  Northern  Provin- 
ces, fhould  attack  Fort  Frederic  [Crown 
Point]  and  make  himfelf  Mafler  of  it. 

3 d,  That  M.  Shirley,  with  his  own  and 
Pepper  ell's  regiments,  fhould  attack  Fort  Nia- 
gara, that  he  fhould  be  fupplied  with  a  ef- 
ficient number  of  Battoes  to  tranfport  his 
Troops  and  Artillery  thither  by  Lake  On- 
tario~i  and  that  the  Garrifon  of  Ofwego  fhould 
be  reinforced,  which  was  to  affift  him  in 
Cafe  of  Need,  and  to  favour  his  retreat,  if 
he    fhould  be  purfued. 

qtbly,  Befides  the  Attack  of  Fort  Fre- 
deric, Colonel  John/on  was  charged  with  an 
important  Treaty  with  the  Iroquois  [Indians 
of  the  Six  Nations]  whom  they  wanted  by 
all  Means  to  engage  in  the  War.  Gene- 
ral Braddock  was  not  ignorant  what  for- 
midable Enemies  thefe  Indians  are.  He  gave 
Mr.   Johnfon  Harangues   ready  made  J,  and 

two 
%    Sue   No.  13,  &  14. 


(     39     ) 

two    thoufand    Pounds,  to    be   laid    out    in 
Prefents  for    them. 

$tbly,  The  remaining  Expedition,  which 
the  General  rcferved  for  himfelf,  is  but  too 
well  known  by  its  ill  Succefs.  It  was  refol- 
ved,  that  he  mould  fet  out  for  Frederic-Town 
the  20th  of  April,  and  to  reach  the  Mountains 
by  the  firir.  of  May,  that  he  might  be  in  a 
Capacity  to  finifh  in  the  Month  of  June,  all 
that  he    propofed  to    execute  on  the  Ohio. 

Such  exactly  was  the  Plan,  which  tend- 
ed to  open  all  the  Gates  of  Ca?iada  to  the 
Englijh,  and  to  make  them  Mailers  of  the 
river  St.  Lawrence.  Every  Commander  knew 
his  particular  Deflination,  and  the  Connec- 
tion his  Commifiion  had  with  all  thofe  that 
ought  to  be  executed  at  the  fame  Time. 
They  thought,  by  haflening  the  Invafion,  to 
furprife  the  French.  General  Braddock  ha- 
ving fpent  at  Frederic-Town  the  Lait  of  A- 
pril  and  Beginning  of  May,  arrived  the  ioth 
of  May  at  Fort  Cumberland,  •  which  Place  the 
Army  reached  on  the  17th,  after  a  very 
painful  March  of  twenty-feven  Days.  This 
Armyconfifted  only  of  two  Thoufand  effective 
Men,  and  fo  was  only  defigned  to  reduce 
Fort  du  Quefne,  and  then  to  join  at  Niagara 
that  Body  of  Troops  commanded  by  Mr. 
Shirley» 

It 


(  4o     ) 

It  appears  that  Mr.  Braddock  had  not  given 
himielf  Time  to  reflect  ferioufly  on  the  Diffi- 
culties attending  his  Enterprize.  You  fee  his 
Difquietudes  and  Uneafînefs  painted  in  the 
Letter  he  wrote  the  5th  of  June  to  Mr.  Robin-* 
fon.  He  there  complains  of  the  little  Zeal 
with  which  the  Colonies  had  feconded  him, 
of  the  Dangers  he  had  under-gone,  and  the 
Charges  he  had  been  at,  in  order  to  tranfport 
the  Artillery  and  Munitions  in  a  Country  as 
yet  uninhabited^  unknown,  and  wipajjable,  even 
for  the  Inhabitants  themfehes*.  He  was  yet  at 
Fort  Cumberland  when  he  wrote  that  Letter. 
He  left  that  about  the  latter  End  of  June, 
and  all  know  what  was  the  Mue  of  the  En- 
gagement on  the  9th  of  July,  which  was 
unhappy  for  him,  and  which  put  an  End  to 
his  Life  and  Projects. 

Colonel  John/on  had  fet  out  immediately 
after  the  Congrefs  at  Alexandria,  in  order  to 
execute  on  his  Part,  the  Commiffion  which 
was  intrufted  to  him.  „He  fpent  Part  of  the 
Month  of  May  among  the  Five  Nations,  in 
order  to  animate  them  to  the  War.     Nothing 

was 

*  How  do  thefe  "Terms  agree  with  that 
PoJfeJJion,  which  according  to  the  Englifh,  fe- 
cures  to  them  the  Property  of  the  Countries  Weft 
of  the  Apalachian  Mountains, 


(     4i     ) 

was  fpared  to  render  the  French  odious.     But 
neither  Calumnies  nor  Prefents  had  the  defired 
Effect.     In  vain  did  he  endeavour  to  perfuade 
the  Mohawks,  that  the  French  had  taken  Pof- 
feffion  of  different  Countries  which  belonged, 
not  to  tne  Eng Hjh  (for  he  durft  not  go  fo  far) 
but  to  thé  Indians,  their  Allies.  Thoie  People, 
who  have  more  Senfe  than  is  commonly  ima- 
gined, were  not   to  be  taken  in  that  Snare. 
They  returned  an   Anfwer  full  of  Compli- 
ments ;  but  they  refufed  coming  to  any  Con- 
cluiion,  under  Pretence  that  it  could  not  be 
done,  but  in    a   general   Council    of  all   the 
Nations.     In  fine,  the  Speeches  both  of  Co- 
lonel  Jehnfcn,  and    of  the   Indian  Sachems, 
prove,  that  the  Latter  did  not  think  ÛieEnglifè. 
had  any   right  to  prefcribe  Laws    to   them. 
Both  Nations  treat  with  each  other  on  a  Foot 
of  Equality.     The  Iroquois,    who  were   then 
fomething  inclined  to  make  a  Treaty  of  Alli- 
ance with  the  Engli//j,  are  become  their  mor- 
tal   Enemies,    finçe    the   Proclamations,    by 
which  the  Englifo  Commanders  were  fo  im- 
prudent as  to  offer  a  reward  for  their  Scalps. 

While  that,  important  Treaty  was  carrying 
on,  Colonel  John/on  did  not  lofe  Sight  of  the 
Attack  of  Fort  Frederic.  On  the  5th  of  May 
he  wrote  to  the  Governors,  who  were  to  fur- 

F  mfh 


(       4-2       ) 

niih  him  with  Men  and  Artillery;]:.  On  the 
one  Hand,  that  Letter  proves  that  he  had  rè- 
folved  to  bombard  the  Fort  -,  and,  on  the  other, 
that  he  flattered  himfelf,  he  mould  be  able 
to  appear  before  the  Place,  before  the  French 
had  any  Intimation  of  his  Dèfigft.---^//  Thing's^ 
fays  he,  tnujl  be  baftened>  that  Nothing  may 
retard  our  Marché  which  might  confirm  the 
Enemy  in  their  Snjpicion  of  an  Attack,  if  unhap- 
pily they  have  any  Intelligence  of  it. 

On  the  Side  0f  Acadia,  Colonel  Monckion, 
ready  to  execute  the  Attack  of  tiré  Forts  on  the 
Ijlhmtis,  began  with  publishing  a  Proclamation 
on  the  third  of  May,  in  the  Name  of  Gover- 
nor Laurence,  by  which  all  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  French  Lands  beyond  the  Ifthmm,  are  com- 
manded to  furrender  themfelvcs  immediately 
to  the  Englifh,  and  to  deliver  up  all  their  À'rmsjJ, 
That  was  certainly  the  Country,  in  re/pecl  to 
which,  his  Britannic  Majefty  had,  after  the 
Building  of  the  Englifh  and  FrcnchForts  in  the 
Iflhmns,  formerly  promifed,  that  no  Innova- 
tions mould  be  made,  .till  the  Commiflkries 
had  come  to  a  Determination.  On  the  16th 
and  ijùi  oî  June  following,  Colojiel  Mcnckton 
bombarded  and  took  the  French  Forts  of  Beau* 
fejour  and  Gafpereaux. 

We 

J  See  Numb.  15.     ||  See  Numb.  16, 


(     43     ) 

We  are  now  come  to  the  Time,  when  thç 
Rupture  between  the  two'Courts  became  no- 
torious ;  it   would  have   been   iboner,   if  the 
Court  of  France  couid  have   been  fooner  in- 
formed of  the   refolutipns  of  his     Britannic 
Majefty  :  But  at  the  very  Time  that  they  ex- 
ecuted in  America  the  Flan  of  Invafion,  that 
had  been  concerted  before  the  Year  1754,  the 
Ministers  of  Great-Britain   fought  to   arnufe 
the    Court    of    France    with      Négociations. 
They  carried  oh   a  War  beyond   Sea,  and  in 
Europe  feemed  wholly  taken  up  with  a  Syftem 
of  Pacification,  and  the  Means  to  prevent  that 
Rupture  which  England  had  refolved  on. 

That  Négociation,  which  Europe  ought  to 
be  informed  of,  was  only  intended,  on  the  Part 
of  England,  to  gain  as  much  Time  as  would 
be  necefiary  to   carry  into  Execution  all  the 
Parts  of  the  Plan.     So  we  {hall  fee,  that  the 
rnore  condescending  France  fliewed  itfelf,  the 
mere  the  Britijh  Minifters  invented  new  Diffi- 
culties, to  prevent  the   coining   to  an  Agree- 
ment, till,  at  length,  General  Bradai 
having  given  the  Court  of  London  full  Afliirancc 
of  Succefs,  his  Britannic  Majefty  gave  expr 
Orders   to  make   open   War  by  Sea,  and  tp 
attack,  without  Diftinclion,  all  the  Verfels  qf 
the  King. 

F  z 


(     44     ) 

The  Defigns  of  the  Court  of  London  will 
be  laid  open,  by  a  particular  Account  of  the 
Négociations,  which  engaged  the  moft  ferious 
Attention  of  the  French  Minifter,  and  which 
feemedto  engage  the  Attention  of  the  Minifter 

tO   p 

of 'Great-Britain,  for  the  firft  Six  Months  of 
the  Year  1755. 

In  the  Month  of  January  of  that  Year,  his 
Majefty,  willing  to  prevent  the  ill  Effects  of 
the  accidental  Differences  between  the  French 
and  Englijh  on  the  Banks  of  Ohio  (the  Caufe 
ef  which,  as  you  have  feen  above,  cannot  be 
imputed  to  the  French)  fent  to  the  Court  of 
London y  by  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  a  Memo- 
rial, which  had  a  Tendency  to  prevent  the 
Effed  of  thefe  Troublesf . 

la  that  Memorial,  which  was  dated  the 
15th  of  January,  the  King  propofed  to  his 
Britannic  Majefty,  that,  before  they  examined 
into  the  Grounds  and  Circumftances  of  that  Quar-< 
rel,  they  Jhculd  firft  fend  pofitive  Orders  to  the 
refpeBive  Governors,  to  make  them  ce  a fe  from 
all  Enterprifes  and  Violences  ;  and  command 
them,  with  RefpeB  to  the  Territory  on  the  Side 
of  Ohio,  or  la  Belle  Riviere,  to  put  all 
Things  without  Delay,  in  the  fame  Condition  in 
which  they  were,  or  ought  to  have  beenx  before 
the  lafi  War. 

The 
^  See  Numb*  |, 


(     45     ) 

The  King  demanded,  at  the  fame  Time, 
that  the  Claims  refpecling  that  Country,  jhould  he 
amicably  referred  to  the  Commijfaries  ;  and,  that 
to  remove  all  Grounds  of  JJneafinefs,  his  Bri- 
tannic Majefty,  would  explain  himfelf  fully, 
as  to  the  Dejli 'nation  and  Motives  of  that  Arma- 
ment which  was  ?nade  in  Ireland. 

Had  that  Propofal  been  accepted,  Fort  du 
Quefne,  which  General  Braddock  was  com- 
manded to  Attack,  would  have  been  deftroyed 
by  the  French  themfelves,  and  the  Commif- 
faries  of  the  two  Nations,  would  have  exami- 
ned in  an  amicable  Manner,  the  Titles  and 
PorTeffion  of  each  Crown. 

The  Anfwer  to  that  Memorial,  was  fent  to 
the  Duke  de  Mirepoix  the  2  2d  of January, 
1755.  That  Anfwer*  has  two  Parts  ;  and 
if  the  firft  appeared  captious,  the  fécond,  how- 
ever, contained  nothing  equivocal,  and  aught 
to  have  been  fufficient  to  aflure  the  French  of 
the  Defti nation  of  the  Armament  in  Ireland. 

if,  His  Britannic  Majefty  demands,  that 
the  Pojfeffion  of  that  Territory  on  the  Side  of 
Ohio,  be  put  in  the  fame  Condition,  in  which  it 
was  at  the  Time  of  the  Conclufion  of  the  Treaty 
of  Utrecht  ;  andy  agreeable  to  the  Stipulations  of 
that  fame  Treaty,  he  would  have  the  fame  done 
in  all  the  other  Poffeffions  of  North-America  ; 

and 
*  See  No.  2. 


(     46     ) 

and  agrees,  when  that  is  done,  to  treat  about. 
the  Inflruftions  of  the  refpeùlive  Governors,  and 
making  them  ceafefrom  all  Violences ,  and  t&  refer 
the  Pretenfons  of  ôof h  to  be  quickly  and  finally 
dif cuffed  and  adjufled,  in  an  amicable  Manner ', 
ietween  the  two  Courts. 

2d,  He  declares,  That  the  Defence  of  his 
Rights  and  PoffeJJhns,  and  the  Protection  of  his 
Subjects,  had  been  the  file  Motives  of  that  Ah* 
marnent  which  had  beenfent  to  North- America; 
which  was  done  without  intention  to 
offend  any  power  whatever,  or  to  do 
any  Thing  which  could  infringe  the 
general  peace. 

It  was  difficult  to  conceive,  how  the  Treaty 
of  Utrecht  could  be  made  U[q  of,  to  fettle  the 
rights  of  each  Nation  on  the  Ohio  ;  or  how  it 
was  poilible  to  demand,  as  previous  to  all 
Négociation,  that  the  other  Lands  in  difpute, 
fliould  be  reflored  to  the  Condition  in  which 
they  were  at  the  Conclufion  of  that  Treaty, 
and  agreeable  to  the  Stipulations  which  are 
therein  contained.  At,  the  Time  of  the  Treaty 
of  Utrecht y  the  Poffeffion  was  in  Favour  of 
France,  fince  it  was  France  that  ceded  it. — 
And  the  Extent  of  that  Ceffion,and  the  Mean- 
ing of  the  Stipulations  in  thar  Treaty,  were 
the  Things,  which  it  was  agreed  mould  be 
referred  to  Coi^mklaries  -,    and  the  King  of 

England 


(     47     ) 

England  had  prorfiifcd,  that  no  Innovations 
fliould  be  made,  till  they  had  come  to  a  De- 
termination. 

The  Court  of  France,  therefore,  urged  [and 
at  the  fame  Time  that  it  allured  his  Britannic 
Majefty  of  the  Confidence  it  had  in  the 
Sincerity  of  his  Declaration,  it  made  it  appear, 
in  a  Reply,  which  was  lent  to  the  Court  of 
Lo7idon,  the  6th  of  February]  that  the  Propo- 
fal  made  by  his  Majefty,  was  the  only  one, 
which  could  effectually  prevent  Trouble  and 
Uneafiriefs.  It  afferted,  that,  that  Method 
was  agreeable  to  the  Engagements  of  the 
Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  to  the  Meafures 
taken  lince  that  Time,  and  to  the  Conditions 
demanded  by  England  itfelf,  in  1750,  and 
1 75 1.  And  indeed,  as  the  Defign  of  that 
Commiflion,  to  which  (he  Court  of  London 
had  agreed  to,  was  to  determine  the  Meaning 
of  the  1 2th  and  13th  Articles  of  the  Treaty  of 
Utrecht,  the  Execution  of  thofe  Articles, 
could  not  be  looked  on  as  the  Bafis  of  a  Né- 
gociation. That  would  have  been  to  give  up, 
as  an  undoubted  Principle  and  rule  of  Action, 
the  very    Thing  t!  is  fubmitted  to  the 

Decifion  of  CommhTaries. 

His  Majefty  therefore  propofed,  i/f,  That 
both  Kings  mould  command  their  refpeclive 
Governors,  to  abftain  from  all  Violence,  and 
all  Enterprifes.  %£x 


(     43     ) 

2d,  That  in  all  North-America,  Things 
Chou  Id  be  reftored  to  the  Condition  in  which 
they  were,  or  aught  to  have  been,  before  the 
laft  War,  agreeable  to  the  9th  Article  of  the 
Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

3d,  That  agreeable  to  the  18th  Article  of 
the  fame  Treaty,  his  Britannic  Majefty  inform 
the  Commiffion  eftablifihed  at  Paris,  of  his 
Pretenfions,  and  the  Foundation  on  which 
they  were  built. 

Finally,  In  Anfwer  to  the  Enquiry  of  the 
Court  of  London,  in  the  laft  Memorial,  re- 
ipeéring  the  Defign  of  thofe  Armaments 
which  his  Majefty  had  made,  it  was  not  dif- 
fembied,  that  thofe  Armaments,  which  the 
Court  of  London  had  publiflied  to  ail  Europe^ 
and  which  it  had,  in  Part,  carried  into  Exe- 
cution, had  made  thefe  Precautions  neceftary, 
on  the  Side  of  France. 

At  length,  France  was  even  willing  to  the 
Difficulties  r^ifed  by  the  Court  of  London.  It 
coniented  to  take  for  a  provifional  rule,  the 
Condition  in  which.  Things  were  immediately 
after  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht  ;  and  the*  Duke  de 
Mirepoix  fent  the  Englifo  Minifters,  the  Plan 
of  a  preliminary  Agreement;  the  Terms  of 
which,  it  was  believed,  would  be  accepted*. 
The  two  Sovereigns  therein  agreed,  to  fend 

Orders 
*  See  No.  4, 


(     49     ) 

Orders  to  put  a  Stop  to  all  Violences  on  both 
Sides:  It  was  moreover  ftipulated,  that  the 
French  and  Englijh  ihould  by  Agreement* 
evacuate  all  that  Country  fituate  between  the 
Ohio  and  the  Apalachian  Mountains  ;  and  that 
the  French  mould  retire  beyond  the  river,  and 
the  Englijh  on  this  Side  the  Mountains  :  That 
all  that  Country,  during  the  Time  agreed  on, 
ihould  be  looked  on  as  Neutral  >  that  neither 
Nation  ihould  be  at  Liberty  to  frequent  it  ; 
that  all  Things  fliould  be  reftored  to  the  fame 
Condition,  in  which  they  were,  or  aught  to 
have  been,  after  the  Treaty  of  TJtrecht,  and 
that  the  Forts,  which  had  been  built  fined 
that  Time,  on  the  Lands  contended  for, 
mould  on  both  Sides  be  deftroyed.  Further- 
more, their  Majefties  agreed,  that  in  the 
Space  of  two  Years,  they  would  caufe  every 
Matter  in  Difpute  to  be  examined  and  regu- 
lated, by  Commiflaries  nominated  for  that 
Purpofe. 

This,  as  you  fee,  was  to  concur  with  the 
Propofal,  contained  in  the  Memorial  of  the 
Court  of  London,  dated  thre  2 2d  of  January, 
1755.  The  Court  of  France  negotiated  with 
much  more  Sincerity  than  the  Minifters  of 
his  Britannic  Majefty  acted,  when  they  aflured 
the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  that  the  Armaments 
made  in  Iceland,  and  the  Fleet  which  had 
G      '  failed 


(     50     ) 

failed  from  thence,  were  principally  intended 
to  preferve  a  Subordination  and  good  Order 
in  the  Englijh  Colonies. 

Thefe  very  Minifters,  who  ||  feared  no- 
thing fo  much  as  an  Accommodation,  and 
who  knew  that  M.  Braddock,  and  all  the  E/z- 
glijh  Commanders,  were  then  on  their  March, 
were  extremely  furprized  to  fee  France  comply, 
in  fome  Meafure,  with  their  firft  Demands- 
They  thereupon  immediately  changed  the 
Plan,  which  they  themfelves  had  propofed  ; 
and  on  the  7th  of  March,  fent  to  the  Duke 
de  Mirepoix,  another  Plan  of  Agreement, 
which  they  would  never  have  devifcd,  but. 
becaufe  they  well  knew  it  could  not  poffibly 
be  agreed  to*. 

The  two  Kings  therein  agreed  to  fend  Or- 
ders to  put  a  Stop  to  all  Violences  :  But  thefe 
were  not  to  take  Place,  until  France  had  iub- 
mitted  to  the  following  Conditions.  ijl,  To 
deftroy  not  only  the  Forts  fituate  between  the 
Jlpalachian  Mountains  and  the  Ohio,  but  alfo 
to  deftroy  all  the  Settlements  which  lie  be- 
tween the  Ohio  and  the  Wabajh,  or  the  river 
St.  Jerome.  2d,  To  demolifh  Fort  Niagara, 
and  Fort  Frederic,  fituate  on  Lake  Champlain  ; 
and,  with  regard  to  the  Lakes  Ontario,  Erie^ 
and  Champlain,  they  were  to  belong  neither 

to 
•  See  No,  5. 


(    51    ) 

to  one  nor  the  other,  but  mould  be  equally 
frequented  by  the  Subjects  of  both  Crowns, 
who  mould  have  an  equal  right  to  Trade 
there.  3d,  To  grant  definitively  to  England, 
not  only  that  Part  of  the  Peninfula  to  the 
North  of  Acadia,  which  was  then  in  Difpute, 
'but  alfo  the  Space  of  Twenty  Leagues,  from 
South  to  North,  in  all  that  Country  which 
reaches  from  the  River  Pentagoet,  as  far  as 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  Ajh,  and  laftly, 
That  all  the  Southern  Bank  of  the  river  St. 
Lawrence,  mould  belong  to  no  Body,  but 
mould  remain  uninhabited. 

On  thefe  Conditions  his  Britannic  Majefty 
was  willing  to  commit  the  Decifion  of  his 
other  Claims  to  the  Commiffaries  c?f  the  two 
Crowns. 

By  that  Means  the  Court  of  London  ren- 
dered the  Preliminary  Négociation  as  long, 
and  fubjecT:  to  as  many  Difficulties,  as  the 
principal  One,  which  was  all  that  it  defired. 
The  Court  of  Frajice,  fenfible  that  Prppofals 
fo  different  from  thofe  firft  made,  only  tended 
to  prevent  the  Conclufion  of  a  preliminary 
Agreement,  infifted  on  the  Neceffity  of  be- 
ginning, before  all  Things,  with  giving  Or- 
ders to  prevent  all  Hoftilities,  and  to  put  a 
Stop  to  all  Violences.  It  was  alfa  propofed, 
that  the  two  Courts  fliould  mutually  commu- 
G  2  nicatc 


(     52     ) 

nicate  to  each  other  the  Orders  they  gave  j 
but  with  this  Propofal||,  fo  juft  and  equitable, 
the  Britijh  Minifters  abfolutely  refufed  to 
comply,  in  the,  Aniwer %  they  fent  to  the  Duke 
de  Mirepoix,  the  5th  of  April,    1755. 

There  was  therefore  a  Neceffity  to  returrç 
and  combat  that  Plan  of  Agreement,  on  which 
the  Englijh  Miniftry  fo  much  infifled.  It  was 
cafy  to  prove,  that  the  preliminary  Agreement 
which  England  demanded,  began  with  abfo- 
lutely deciding,to  the  Prejudice  of  France, Ûi^X 
Controverfy,  which  his  Britannic  Majefty  had 
formerly  promifed  to  refer  to  CommirTaries, 
By  that  Plan,  the  French  irretrievably  loft  all 
Trade  with  Ca?iada  by  the  River  St.  John, 
the  King  was  ftripped  of  the  Property  of  the; 
three  Lakes,  which  had  always  been  looked 
on  as  Part  of  New-France ',  and  the  river  St. 
Lawrence,  which  is  the  Center  of  Canada, 
became  the  Boundary  of  that  Colony.  All 
thefe  Things  were  difcuffed  in  a  Letter  of  the 
13th  of  April,  1 75 5*f,>  by  which  the  French 
Minifter  informed  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix  of 
his  Majefty's  Intentions,  and  his  Anfwér  tq 
the  Plan  propofed  by  England,  which  was  an 
fcbfolute  refufal  to  agree  thereto. 

On, 

||  See  No.  6.         %  See  No.  7. 
f  See  No,  8. 


(     53     ) 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1755,  the  BritiJJj 
Minifters  fent  the  Ambaflador  of  France,  a 
fort  of  an  Anfwer  to  that  Letter.  They  had 
not  yet  received  Advice  of  the  lair  Diipaition 
of  Affairs  in  America,  nor  were  they  fure  in 
England,  that  the  Operations,  which  they 
took  fo  much  care  to  conceal,  could  all  be 
executed  at  the  fame  Time.  It  was  therefore 
necerTary  ftill  to  prolong  the  Negotiation.  So 
we  fee,  that  in  that  "Anfwer  %,  the  Court  of 
London  complains  of  the  little  Attention  that 
the  French  IVRnifter  had  given  to  their  reflec- 
tions; and,  they  alfo  add,  that  they  are  ready 
to  enter  upon  an  Examination  of  all  the  Points  in 
Difpute,  ana1  in  the  Course  of  that  Exa- 
mination, they  will  be  able  to  dij cover  wherein 
the  principal  Differences  confiji. 

His  Majefty,  even  then,  would  have  very 
willingly  consented  to  enter  upon  the  Exami- 
nation and  E)ifcufTion  of  thpfe  Points,  which 
prevented  the  Concluflon  of  a  preliminary 
Treaty.  iOf  this,  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix  anu- 
red  the  m  inifters  of  Great-Britain,  on  the  6th 
of  Mayfiiyjs'f:  And  in  the  Memorial  which 
the  Court  of  London  ordered  to  be  fent  to  him, 
on  the  9th  of  the  fame  Month,  they  affect  to 
teftify  the  greateft  Satisfaction  on  that  Account. 
In  thefe  Terms  they  exprefs  themfelves||  : 

"  The 
X  See  No.  9.  f  See  No.  10.  ||  See  No.  11. 


(    54    ) 

ff  The  Court  of  Great-Britain  fees,  with 
*'  the  greateft  Satisfaâion,  by  the  Anfwer 
u  which  his  Excellency  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix 
*c  has  fent  to  Mr.  Robin/on,  the  6th  of  this 
"  Month,  not  only  that  the  Court  of  France 
"  continues  in  its  rcfolution  to  maintain  the 
* c  Peace,  but  that  its  Difpofitions  are  the  fame 
€t  as  thofe  of  England  always  have  been,  and 
€i  that  it  is  ftill  ready  to  enter,  without  Delay  t 
<c  upon  the  Examination  and  amicable  Difcuf- 
<c  fion  of  all  the  Points  in  Difputc.  The 
<c  Court  of  London,  in  the  whole  Courfe  of 
<c  this  Examination,  has  proceeded  with  fb 
u  much  Candour  and  Sincerity"  &c. 

It  is  not  neceffary  to  remark  the  Date  of 
that  Memorial.  Every  Body  may  compare  it 
with  thofe  of  General  Braddock's  Letters, 
which  I  have  fpoken  of  above,  and  may,  if 
they  pleafe,  reconcile  that  Candour  and  Sin- 
cerity with  the  Hoftilitics  which  were  then 
committed  in  America.  At  the  very  Time 
that  the  Minifters  of  Great-Britain,  were 
giving  fuch  repeated  and  ftrong  Affurançes  to 
his  Majefty's  AmbafTador,  the  People  in  Lon- 
don began  to  publifh,  that  a  rupture  was  re- 
folved  on,  and  that  Admiral  Bofcawen,  whd 
had  juft  fet  Sail,  had  Orders  to  attack  the 
French  Veffels  wherever  he  fhould  find  them. 
No  longer  did  they  affign  the  pretended  En- 
croachments 


(     55    ) 

croachments  of  France  as  Motives  of  thé 
War  ;  but  the  Neceiîîty  there  was  to  embrace 
this  Opportunity  to  ruin  her  Commerce,  and 
put  it  out  of  her  Power  to  re-eftabli£h  her 
Marine. 

Thefe  reports  were  fo  current  and  uniform, 
that  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix^  thought  it  his 
Duty  to  inform  his  Court  thereof.  Which  he 
did,  notwithftanding  the  moft  formal  and  re- 
peated AfTurances,  which  the  Minifters  of 
Great-Britain  gave  him  of  their  pacific  In- 
tentions. They  told  him  again  and  again, 
that  he  ought  to  give  no  Credit,  either  to 
common  reports,  or  to  the  public  News-Pa- 
pers. Nay,  thefe  Minifters  went  even  farther: 
The  Duke  de  Mirepoix  having  about  the  latter 
End  of  April  {hewed  fome  Uneafînefs  about 
the  Deftination  of  Admiral  Bofcawens  Fleet, 
and  the  Orders  that  were  given  him,  they 
pofitively  aflured  him,  that  the  Englijh  would 
certainly  not  attack  flrft. 

Confidering  the  Confidence  due  to  fo  many 
Appearances  of  Sincerity,  it  is  no  Wonder  that 
France  thought  the  Negotiation  ought  to  be 
continued.  The  Englijh  Minifters  had  never 
made  a  Propofal,  but  at  the  fame  Time  they 
gave  fufficient  room  to  believe  that  it  was  not 
their  laft.  Therefore  on  the  12th  of  May\ 
the  Duke  de  Mirepoix  fent  them  a  Memorial 

much 


(    56    ) 

much  more  regular  than  the  former-f-,  and  in 
which  the  rights  and  Interefts  of  both  Nations 
were  examined,  with  relation  to  Articles  of  à 
preliminary  Agreement,  in  which  they  could 
not  yet  concur. 

The  Englijh  Miniftry  made  hiiti  wait  an 
Anfwer,  till  the  End  of  May,  and  fome  Days 
in  June.  On  the  7th  they  fent  it.  Now  if 
any  one  will  reflect,  that  on  the  8th  Admiral 
Bofcawen  gave  the  Signal  of  an  open  rupture 
by  Sea,  he  muft  be  convinced  that  the  Delay 
of  that  Anfwer,  made  a  Part  of  that  Plan  of 
Adtion,  which  the  Court  ot  London  Had  formed. 

In  that  Anfwer,  which  was  deferred  with  fo 
much  Addrefs,  the  BritiJJj  Miniftry  repeated 
anew  the  Grounds  of  all  their  Claims  in  Ame- 
rica. In  it  they  found  the  right  which  Eng- 
land has  to  that  Dominion  it  exercifes  over 
the  Iroquois,  on  a  pretended  Sale  which  the 
Indians  have  made  to  the  Englijh.  In  fine, 
they  renew  all  the  Difputes  about  Acadia,  the 
Decifion  of  which  had  been  referred  to  the 
Commiffaries  of  the  two  Nations.  This  was 
no  longer  to  treat  about' a  preliminary  Agree- 
ment, which  might  prevent  Hoftilities,  and 
put  the  two  Courts  in  a  Condition  to  treat  in 
an  amicable  Manner.  It  was  to  examine  the 
very  Foundation  of  the  Controverfy,     But  it 

then 
•f  See  No,  12. 


(     57     ) 

then  little  concerned  England,  which  had  only 
fought  to  gain  Time,  and  now  approached 
the  Period,  when  all  their  Enterpriies  muft 
become  notorious. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  the  News  came  to 
London,  of  the  Capture  of  two  Frencb  Men 
of  War,  the  Alcide  and  the  Lys.  They  had 
been  attacked  on  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland 
by  Admirai  Bofanuen,  who  had  talked  of  no- 
thing but  Peace,  till  the  Moment  he  had 
brought  his  Guns  to  bear,  and  was  ready  to 
pour  a  Broadfide  into  them. 

If  his  Majefcy's  Ambaflador  at  London,  had 
room  to  be  furpriied  at  that  News,  he  had 
much  more  rcafon  afterwards,  at  the  Infinua- 
tion  of  one  of  the  Englrfh  Minifters,  who 
would  have  him  Attribute  fuch  open  Hoftili- 
ties  to  a  Mijiake.  The  Secretary  of  State 
went  fo  far  as  to  endeavour  to,  periuade  him, 
that  what  had  happened,  ought  by  no  Means 
to  break  off  the  Negotiation.  Doubtlefs,  it 
would  have  been  more  advantageous  for  the 
Britifi  Miniftry,  that  France  had  negotiated 
till  they  could  have  had  certain  Advice,  that 
the  general  Plan  of  Invafion,  the  Succefs  of 
hich  was  then  looked  on  certain,  was  car-^ 

ied  into  Execution. 
From  what  is  faid,  it  is  eafy  to  judge,  whe- 

her  the  Departure  of  the  French  Ambaflador 

H  from 


(    5«    ) 

from  London  was  too  precipitate,  as  the  Court 
of  Great-Britain  aflerts,  in  the  Memorial 
which  I  have  anfwered,  only  by  a  Detail  of 
Fadts. 

What  has  pafled  fince  his  Departure,  either 
in  Europe  or  America^  is  too  public,  and  too 
well  known,  to  need  a  relation  here.  The 
Account  I  have  given,  both  of  the  military 
Operations,  and  political  Negotiations  of  Eng- 
land^ is  fufficient  to  give  a  juft  Idea  of  the 
Caufes  of  the  rupture,  and  of  the  Views  which 
have  influenced  both  Powers. 

Such  are  the  Fafts.  England  cannot  deny 
one  of  them.     Let  Europe  now  pronounce. 


End  of  the^firji  Volume. 


A 


A 

COLLECTION 
o  F 

TITERS, 

Tending  to  vindicate  the  Conduce  of  the  Court 
of  France,  in  Anfwer  to  the  Obfervations 
fent  by  the  Englijh  Miniflry  to  the  feveral 
Courts  of  Europe. 

PART   the    FIRST. 

NUMB.    I. 

An  Extract  of  a  Memorial  from  the  Bri- 
tish Court \  deliver  d  to  the  French  Am- 
bajfador  the  i\th  e/'July,  1749,  in  Ajifwer 
to  that  which  was  fent  from  //^French  King, 
relating  to  the  Settlements  projected  by  England. 

HIS  Majefty  the  King  of  Great-Bri- 
tain,  having  conlidered  the  Me- 
morial which  was  prefented  to  the 
Duke  of  Bedford  the  7th  of  laft 
Month,  concerning  Nova-Scotia,  by  Mr. 
Durand,  one  of  the  Minifters  of  his  moil: 
Chrijlian  Majefty  at  the  Court  of  England, 
ordered,  that  the  different  Obfervations  which 

appears 


(     6o     ) 

appear  neceflary  to  be  made  on  the  faid  Me 
morial,  be  reprefented  in  the  following  Man 
ner  to  the  faid  Mr.  Durand. 

The  two  Points  concerning  which  the  mo 
Chrijlian  King  demands  an  Expianation  ;  to 
wit y  The  Settlement  of  Acadia ,  or  Ncva-Sco 
tia9  and  the  Project  attributed  to  Governor; 
Dobbs,  are  in  themfelves  fo  little  liable  to  any 
Objection  from  any  Power  whatfoever,  that 
it  will  be  eafy  to  remove  the  bad  Opinions  I 
the  Court  of  France  may  have  conceived,  by 
the  fajfe  reports  which  may  have  been  fug^ 
gefted  to  them  on  that  Account. 

The  only  Thing  which  might  in  Juftice:] 
give  Umbrage  to  the  Court  of 'France,  would 
be  an  Apprehenfion  founded  on  reafon,  that 
the  King  had  given  Orders  to  extend  the  Set- 
tlements in  Nova-Scotia,  farther  than  his  Ma-! 
jefty  had  a  right  to  do,  by  the  12th  Article; 
of  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht. 

But  fuch  an  Apprehenfion  falls  of  itfelf, 
fince  the  King  of  Great-Britain ,in  Conformity 
to  the  French  King's  Defire,  agrees  to  fubmit 
the  regulation  of  the  Limits  of  Ncva-Scotia>> 
to  Commiffioners,  according  to  its  ancient 
Bounds,  as  alfo  the  Limits  and  the  right  of 
Poffeffion  of  the  feveral  Iflands  and  Countries 
in-  America,  which  have  been  in  Difpute  be- 
tween the  two  Nations  5  nor  can  it  be  fuppofed 

the 


(     6t      ) 

the  King  would  extend  Settlements,  which 
muft  of  Neceffity  be  attended  with  vaft  Ex- 
pence,  in  a  Part  of  the  Province  he  has  not  a 
clear  and  undoubted  right  to. 

As  the  Limits,  therefore,  of  Nova-Scotia  are 
to  be  fubmitted  to  the  Examination  of  Com- 
miflioners,  it  is  needlefs  to  Anfwer  here  all 
the  Aflertions  contained  in  the  Memorial  of 
Mr.  Durand  upon  that  Head.  Mr.  Durand 
has  alfo  lightly  touched  in  his  Memorial,  on 
the  Plan  projected  by  Governor  Dobbs,  as 
tending  to  incroach  upon  the  Trade  which 
the  French  have  with  the  Indians  towards  the 
North  of  Canada,  and  to  extend  the  Britifo 
Settlements  in  thofe  Parts,  to  the  Prejudice  of 
the  rights  of  his  moft  Chriflian  Majefty  ;  he 
did  not  enter  into  Particulars  thereupon,  the 
Obje&s  of  the  faid  Plan  not  being  fufficiently 
known  in  France. 

But  it  would  be  very  eafy  to  give  the  Court 
of  France  anintire  Satisfaction  on  that  Article, 
afluring  them  that  this  Plan,  which  was  de- 
bated in  Parliament,  had  abfolutely  no  other 
Intention  than  to  open  an  exclufive  Commerce 
to  the  whole  Nation,  which  had  been  practi- 
fed  a  long  Time  by  a  priviledged  Company, 
.  under  a  private  Patent,  and  that  only  with  an 
Intent  to  extend  a  general  Trade  in  thofe 
Parts,  and  not  to  enlarge  the  PofTeiTions  of  the 
Nation,  at  the  Expence  of  any  other.        But 


(       62       ) 

But  as  this  Plan  was  not  approved  of  in 
Parliament,  it  is  now  laid  afide,  and  confe- 
quently  out  of  the  Queftion;  neverthelefs, 
had  it  been  put  in  Execution,  it  cannot  be 
conceived,  how  it  could  have  given  the  Court 
of  France  the  leaft  Grounds  of  Complaint,  as 
it  had  only  a  relation  to  an  Affair  that  con- 
cerned the  Subjects  of  the  Kingdom  alone  ; 
that  is  to  fay,  whether  a  Trade  a  long  Time 
practifed  at  Hudforis-Bay,  fhould  be  continued 
by  a  private  Company,exclufively,or  fhould  be 
open  to  all  his  Majefty's  Subjects  in  general. 

His  Majefty,  having  thus  explain'd  his  Sen 
timents,  makes   no  Difficulty  to  declare,  in 
Anfwer  to  the  Demands  made  by  the  Court 
of  France; 

i/?,  That  effectual  Orders  have  already  been 
given  not  to  commit  any  Attempt >  either  on  the 
Side  of  Nova-Scotia,  or  on  that  of  HudfonV 
Bay,  againji  the  Trade ',  or  againfl  the  Poflefjiom 
of  his  mojl  Chriflian  Majejlys  SubjeBs>  or  that 
might,  in  any  refpect,  derogate  from  the  defini- 
tive Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle ,  or  from  anj 
former  Engagements  actually  exifting  betweer 
the' two  Crowns. 

2dy  That  his  Majefty  confents  to  nominal 
forthwith  two  Çommiffioners,  to  confer  a 
Paris y  with  thofe  who  fhall  be  appointed  b; 
his  moft   Chriflian  Majefty,    concerning  th< 

refpectiv 


(     63     ) 

refpeftive  Limits,  which  are  adually  in  Dif- 
pute  between  the  two  Crowns;  not  onlythofe 
which  concern  Nova-Scotia  or  Acadia,  but 
alfo  the  Limits  in  other  Part»  of  that  Conti- 
nent, wherefoever  the  Settlements  of  the  two 
Nations  border  one  upon  another  ;  as  alfo  to 
determine  (according  to  a  Propofal  made  in  a 
former  Memorial)  which  are  the  Iflands  be- 
longing to  each  Crown,  and  which  are  to 
remain  neutral. 

Before  his  Majefty  approved  of  any  Settle- 
ments raifed  by  his  Subjects  in  that  Part  of 
Nova-Scotia,  to  which  (though  undoubtedly 
belonging  to  the  King)  France  has  laid  Claim, 
he  confented  to  Submit  his  Pretentions  to  the 
Decifion  of  Commiffioners,  as  a  convincing 
Proof  of  his  Defire  to  preferve  the  Union  and 
Harmony  fo  happily  reftored  between  the 
two  Crowns. 

NUMB.    II. 

A  Letter  from  My  Lord  Albemarle,  to  M. 
the  Marquis  de  Puyzieulx,  complaining  of  a 
Detachment  fent  by  M.  de  la  Jonquiere,  to 
protêt!  the  Inhabitants  ç/'Chiboudi. 

Paris,  March  25,   1750. 

I  HAVE  this  Moment  received  a  Letter 
from  the   Duke  of  Bedford,  wherein  I 
have  Orders  from  his  Majefty,  to  reprefent  to 

your 


(    H   ) 

your  Excellency  the   Caufes  of  Complaint, 
which  the   Governors  of  his  moft  Chrijlian 
Majefty  in  America  have  occafioned,  by  in- 
croaching  upon  the  Territories  of  his  Majefty 
in  Nova-Scotia.     It  is  with  the  greateft  reluc- 
tance, that  his   Majefty  finds  himfelf  under  a 
Neceffity    of  making  reprefentations  againft 
any  of  the  Subje&s  of  his  moft  Chrijiian  Ma- 
jefty; and  more  fo,  having  entertained  fome 
Hopes,  that  after  thofe  which  I  had  made,  by 
his  Majefty *s  Orders  in  September  laft,  and  the 
Aniwer  of  your  Excellency,  concerning  the 
Settlement  which  Mr  de  la  Galijfonniere  had 
undertaken  at  the  River   St.   John,    poiitive 
Orders  had  been  fent  to  the  French  Governors,, 
not  only  to  terminate  every  Caufe  of  Difpute, 
but    alio  to,  avoid  for  the  future,   with  the 
greateft  Care,   all  Proceedings  which  might 
give  rife  to  new  Debates.     Neverthelefs,  his 
Majefty  has  now  received  Letters  from  Go- 
vernor   Cornwallis,    of  Nova-Scotia,   wherein 
he   complains,  that   M.  de  la  Conquière  fent 
Troops  to  Chiboitdi,    which  is  one  of  thofe 
Diftriâs  that   had  fent  Deputies   to  the  faid 
Governor,    at  his   Arrival  in   that  Province, 
in  Order  to  fubmit  themfelves  to  him,  and  to 
receive   the  Orders  of  his  Majefty.     There 
can  be  no  ftronger  Proof,  that  thofe  Inhabi- 
tants looked  upon  themfelves  as  Subjefts  of 

'  Great- 


(     65     ) 

Great-Britain y  fince   the  Province  of  Nova- 
Scotia  was  annexed  to  that  Crown. 

It  is  needlcfs  to  repeat  here  the  rcafons 
which  authorize  his  Majeftj  to  demand  that 
Juftice  which  is  due  to  him  on  the  Account 
of  the  new  Proceedings  of  M.  de  la  Jonquiere; 
his  naoft  Christian  Majefty  cannot  be  ignorant 
of  them.  After  the  exprefs  Orders  his  Majejly 
fent  to  all  his  Governors,  to  bear  continually  in 
Mind  to  adjujt  all  thofe  Difpntes  in  an  amicable 
Manner ',  and  confequently  to  avoid,  with  Care, 
all  Manner  of  Hojlilities*,  unlefs  a  jufl  De- 
fence of  the  Honour,  and  of  the  rights  of  the 
Crown,  fhould  indifpenfably  require  them. 
Without  mentioning  his  Majefty's  inconteftiblc 
right,  there  is  a  rcafon'of  mutual  Obligation, 
to  determine  his  mod  Chrijtian  Majcfty  to 
give  the  like  Orders  to  M.  de  la  Jonquiere, 
that  it  belongs  to  him  to  rcftorc  all  Things  in 
their  former  State,  until  the  Commiliioners, 
who  are  impowered  to  decide  on  the  Limits 

I  ill 

*  TIrs  is  vrhr  Governor  Cornwrilis  has  not  dons,  fi^ce 
it  is  certain,  that  the  Fort  ar  Mines,  and  that  at  Beau  baffint 
were  built  before  ihe  French  raifed  thofe  of  Beau  fejottr  a;.>d 
Gdfparejux,  and  thar  the  latter  were  built  only  after  the  vio- 
lent Meafures  taken  by  Governor  Qmwatth,  againfl.  the  Inha- 
bitants of  the  Iflmus,  which  had  obliged  them  to  rerire  to  the 
inner  Part  of  the  Lands.  This  is  a  Faâ:  which  the  /  n 
cannot  deny,  as  the  jEra  of  the  building  of  thofe  Fore»  is 
Well  known  to  both  Nations. 


(    66     ) 

in  America,  have  fettled  the  Dccifion  thereof, 
and  have  directed  the  rights  of  the  two  Crowns, 
and  that  he  defift  from  every  Attempt  which 
might  give  the  leaft  Interruption  to  the  Union 
fo  happily  reftored  between  both  Nations. 
The  King  of  Great-Britain  is  perfwaded  that 
his  moft  Chrijiian  Majefty  will  be  fo  much  the 
more  inclined  to  make  Ufe  of  fuch  friendly 
and  wholeiome  Meafures,  as  fmall  Contefts 
of  this  Kind  draw  after  them  much  greater, 
unlefs  timely  prevented. 

/  am,   &c. 

Signed,     Albemarle. 

An  Answer  from  the  Marquis  de  Puyzîeulx, 
to  the  foregoing  Letter. 

Ferfai/IeSy  March  31,   1 750. 
Sir, 

I  Received  the  Letter  your  Excellency  was 
pleafed  to  honour  me  with,  dated  the 
25th  of  this  Inftant,  containing  the  Complaints 
your  Court  makes  againft  the  Marquis  de  la 
Conquière,  Governor  of  New-France,  for  fend- 
ing a  Detachment  of  Troops  to  Chiboudi,  as 
the  Count  de  la  Galijjcnniere,  his  PredecefTor, 
had  done  heretofore  to  the  river  St.  "John. 

The  Britifh  Court  has  no  Doubt  fcen  the 
reafons,  which  have  authorised  the  Condud 

of 


(     67     ) 

of  thefe  two  Governors  in  a  Memorial  deli- 
vered to  them  in  June  laft,  wherein  it  was 
demonftratcd,  that  the  river  St.  Jchn  and  CAf- 
boudi  are  on  the  Continent of  Canada. 

As  to  the  Submiiîions  which  fome  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Chiboudi  are  faid  to  have  made 
to  the  Englijh  Governor  of  Nova-Scotia,  be- 
fore the  Arrival  of  the  Detachment  from  Ca- 
nada, the  faid  Inhabitants  being  intimidated 
by  that  Governor,  thole  Submiffions  would 
not  acquire  any  right  to  Great-Britain,  nor 
prevent  their  being  fettled  on  French  Ground  ; 
they  would  only  prove  J  that  if  there  was  any 
Commotion  upon  that  Frontier,  it  was  occa- 
fioned  by  fome  Innovations  brought  about  by 
the  Ev.glifld  Governor,  and  certain  it  is,  that 
the  Precautions  which  the  French  Governors 
thought  it  their  Duty  to  take,  were  with  no 
other  View  than  to  remove  from  the  faid  In- 
habitants the  Fear  of  thofe  Innovations. 

But  there  are  to  be  no  more  Debates  on  that 

Head  amongft  the  refpective  Governors,  by 

I  2  Virtue 


%  Thefe  Submiffions  forced  from  fame  Inhabitants,  were 
in  Èfeâ:  a  Sequel  of  the  Threats  cf  the  Englijh  Governor, 
a  id  prove  a  recent  Attempt.  How  came  it  to  pafs,  fiace  the 
Trea'.y  of  Utrecht,  thai  England  has  had  no  Thought  of  ma- 
king that  Country  acknowledge  the  Authority  of  its  Govern- 
ment 2  We  are  yet  in  Doub;  as  to  the  Submiffions  of  the  In- 
habitants ;  but  certain  it  is,  the  maio*  Part  of  them  implored 
tke  Protection  of  the  Marquis  de  U  jftnquiere  ag*inft  Violence 


(     68     ) 

Virtue  of  the  Orders  they  have  received  tq 
make  no  Alterations  until  the  Limits  are  fet- 
tled, which  is  to  be  done  by  Commiffioners  : 
Orders,  which  M.  de  la  Jonquiere  could  not 
have  received  when  he  fent  the  Detachment  to 
Chiboudi,  iince  they  could  not  be  fent  over  to 
him  before  the  latter  Part  of  the  Winter,  as 
'tis  well  known  in  England. 

Laftly,  this  ought  to  make  us  the  more 
fenfible  of  the  Neceffity  there  is  to  endeavour 
to  forward  the  Bufinefs  of  the  Commiffioners 
who  are  to  regulate  the  Limits  of  the  two 
Crowns  in  America  j  and  the  King  orders  me 
to  renew  his  Inftances  on  that  Head,  with 
his  Majefty  the  King  of  Great-Britain  \  his 
Majefty  infifts  thereon  with  fo  much  the  more 
Earneftneft,  as  this  Work  tends  to  keep  up 
that  good  Harmony,  fo  happily  reftorcd  be- 
tween the  two  Crowns,  and  the  Subjects 
thereof;  and  his  Majefty  has  nothing  more  at 
Heart,  than  to  procure  the  Support  and  Pre- 
fervation  thereof. 

lam,  &c. 

Signed,     Puyzieulx. 


NUMB. 


(  69  ) 

NUMB.    III. 

A  Memorial  delivered  by  Order  of  bis  moji 
Chriflian  Majefty  to  my  Lord  Albemarle, 
the  $th  of  January,  1751,  and  fent  the  fame 
Day  to  M.  the  Duke  of  Mirepoix  in  Eng- 
land ;  containing  the  Complaints  which  France 
makes  concerning  the  Hojlilities  committed  and 
allowed  of  by  the  Englifl|> 

THE  public  Newspapers  have  made 
known,  fome  Months  fincc,  feveral 
Attempts  which  the  Eng/i/h  have  made  againflr 
fome  French  Veffels  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Law* 
rence,  and  upon  the  Coaft  of  New-France, 
But  this  News  feemed  fo  contrary  to  the 
right  of  Nations,  and  the  friendly  Difpofitions 
of  which  the  Britifl?  Court  has  given  fo  many 
Marks  fincc  the  restoration  of  Peace,  that  no 
Credit  could  be  given  to  them  :  But  now,  to 
our  greateft  Surprize,  we  hear,  by  Letters 
from  Canada,  and  Cape-Breton,  that  Englijh 
Veffels  ad:  in  thofe  Seas  as  in  the  Time  of  an 
open  War.  During  the  whole  Summer  laft, 
thofe  Veffels  were  fpread  about,  even  to  the 
utmoft  Part  of  the  iîay  of  Saint  Lawrence, 
flopping  and  infulting  all  the  French  Sloops 
they  came  acrofs.  They  attempted  to  take 
away  a  Brigantine  which  was  at  Anchor  in 
the  river  St.  John,  to  which  Place  lhe  had 

been 


(    7°    ) 

been  fent  by  the  Intendant  of  Canada,  to 
carry  Provifions  to  the  Detachments  of  the 
King's  Troops  which  are  in  thofe  Parts  ;  and, 
finding  it  could  not  be  done,  an  Englifli  Cap- 
tain took  fome  Sailors  out  of  the  Brig,  who 
have  fince  been  fent  by  Governor  Cornwallis 
to  Cape-Breton.  But,  without  entring  into 
Particulars  concerning  all  the  Violences  and 
Irregularities  of  which  the  Englijh  have  been 
guilty,  we  fhail  only  mention  here  two  Facts. 

The  firft  is,  the  taking  of  a  French  Sloop 
called  the  London,  Capt.  Jalain,  by  two  Snows 
of  War.  This  Sloop  was  fent  by  the  Inten- 
dant of  Canada  to  Chedaick,  in  the  Bay  of 
St.  Lawrence,  there  to  carry  Provifions  to  the 
Kings  Troops,  as  alfo  the  annual  Prefents, 
which  it  was  cuftomary  for  his  Majefty  to 
make  to  certain  Indians  belonging  to  a  French 
Miflion;  the  faid  Prefents  confifted  in  Ammu- 
nition, different  Sorts  of  Goods,  and  Provi- 
fions. This  laid  Sloop  returning  from  Che- 
daick,  where  me  had  landed  her  Cargo,  was 
taken,  towards  the  End  of  the  Month  of  Au- 
gufi,  between  the  Coaft  of  Canada  and  the 
Ifland  St.  John.  She  was  afterwards  fent  to 
ChibouBou,  where  fhe  was  condemned. 

The  fécond,  is  the  taking  of  a  French  Bri- 
gantine,  by  a  Frigate  belonging  to  the  King 
oi  Great-Britain^  the  Circumftances  whereof, 

will 


(    7'     ) 

will,undoubtcdly,appear  to  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jefty  more  aggravating  than  the  firft.  The 
Marquis  de  la  Jonquiere,  being  informed  of 
the  Conduct  of  the  Englijh  Veilels,  had  often 
fent  Complaints  thereof  to  Governor  Corn- 
wall? s,  though  to  no  Purpofe  ;  and  having 
Occafion  to  fend  the  neceffary  Succours  to 
the  Detachments  ot  the  Troops  which  are 
towards  the  river  St.  John,  thought  it  necef- 
fary, in  September  laft,  to  fît  out  a  Brigantine 
at  Quebec ',  called  the  Saint  Francis,  in  Order 
to  Convoy  a  Schooner  laden  with  the  Succours 
afore-mentioned.  He  gave  to  Mr.  Vergor  ^ 
Captain  of  the  Troops,  the  Command  of  the 
Brig  aforefaid,  carrying  Ten  fmall  Guns,  and 
Sixty  Men,  including  Thirty  Soldiers.  Cap- 
tain Vergor  was  pcfitively  forbidden  in  the 
In  ftru  étions  which  were  given  him,  to  under- 
take any  Tiling  againft  any  of  the  Englijh 
Veifels  he  mould  chance  to  meet  -y  and  in 
Cafe  he  found  any  one  that  would  oppofc  him 
in  his  Paffage,  his  Orders  were  not  to  fire 
tfntil  the  Englijh  had  begun,  and  to  let  them 
know  firjl,  that  he  was  Commander  of  a  Veffcl 
belonging  to  the  King  of  France,  Jitied  out  to 
carry  Provijlons  to  his  Troops. 

On  the  1 6th  of  October,  the  Brigantine  and 
Schooner  being  two  Leagues  to  the  Weflward 
of  the  IJlcs  of  Seal,  Capt.  Vergor  difcovered 

at 
I 


(    7*    ) 

at  Eleven  in  the  Forenoon,  an  Englifo  Frigate 
making  towards  him,  and  crowding  Sails, 
being  right  before  the  Wind,  prefentiy  came 
up  to  him.  In  about  Half  an  Hour  after,  the 
Frigate  fired  a  Ball  a-Stern  of  the  Brigantine* 
and  hoifted  her  Flag.  Whereupon  Capt.  Ve?  - 
gor  ordered  his  Streamer  and  Flag  to  be  hoifted, 
and  fired  one  Gun,  without  flacking  Sail* 
The  Frigate,  ftill  continuing  her  Purfuit,  came 
in  Half  an  Hour's  Time  wTithin  reach  of  a 
Six  Pounder,  then  fired  a  fécond  Gun,  and 
hoifted  her  Streamer.  Soon  after  which  a 
third  Gun  was  fired,  the  Bullet  whereof  went 
through  his  Fore-top-Sail.  Then  he  prepared 
for  an  Engagement,  in  Cafe  of  a  frefh  Infuit  : 
However,  the  Englifi  Frigate  coming  clofeup, 
again,  fired  a  fourth  Gun, with  Ball,  into  Cap- 
tain Fergors  Sails.  According  to  the  Orders 
the  Marquis  de  la  Conquière  had  given  him, 
he  hailed  the  VefTel  in  French,  telling  them 
he  was  Commander  of  a  Vejfel  belonging  to  the 
King  ^France,  and  that  he  was  carrying  Pro- 
vifions  and  Ammunition  to  the  Troops  ôf 
his  Majefty.  Whereupon  the  Englijh  Com- 
mander made  no  further  Anfwer,  than  to  tell 
him  to  bring  to,  or  he  would  fink  him.  To 
which  the  French  Captain  ordered  the  fame 
Words  to  be  repeated  in  Englijh,  which  had 
before  been  fpoken  m  French.    But  all  the 

Anfwer 


C    73     ) 

Aiiïwcr  fie  could  get,  was  a  whole  Broad-fide, 
and  a  Volley  of  Mufket-Shot.     The  Fight 
lafted  near  Five  Hours  -,  but  the  French  Bri- 
gantine  was  at  laft  fo  torn  and  mattered  in  its 
Sails,  arid    rigging,    that    Capt.    Verger    was 
obliged  to  ftrike,  after  having  had  feveral  Men 
killed   and  wounded.     His  Long-Boat  being 
alfo  in  a  fhattered  Condition,  the  Eng/ijh  Cap- 
tain fent  his  own  to  take  him  on'  board,  where 
Capt.  Vergor  difcovered  that  it  was  the  Albany 
Frigate,  carrying  fourteen"  Guns  ;  twenty  eight 
Swivels,    and    One    Hnndred    and    Tvventy 
Men,   commanded   by   Captain  Rous:     This 
Captain  took  alfo  the  Crew  on  board,  as  alfo 
the  Soldiers  belonging  to  the  Brigantine  ;  and 
left  none  but  the  Wounded,  then  failed  imme- 
diately for  Chiboiictou,  leading  the  Brig  afore- 
faid  in    tow.     They  arrived  at  Chibouclou  the 
1 9th  of  OÛober.     The  next  Day,  Governor 
CornivaUis  fent   for  Capt.   Vergor ,  who   was 
immediately  conducted  from  on  board  the  Fri-* 
gate  to  his  Houfe,  in  one  of  whofe  Chambers 
he  was  confined.     Governor  Combattis  came 
to  him  Half  an  Hour  after,  and  having  given 
his  People  orders  to  lock  him  in  with  the  (aid 
Vergor,  told  him  he  was  forry  for  what  had 
happened,  that   Capt.  Rous  had  loft  a  great 
many  Men.     He  anfwered,  that  he  was  very 
fttfry  for  it  himfelf,  that  i;   was    altogether1 

K  ©wing 


(     74     ) 

owing  to  Capt.  Rous9  whofc  Conduct  he  im- 
mediately  related.  Governor  Cornwall! s  an,- 
fy/cred,  that  if  Things  were  as  he  laid,  Capt. 
Reus  was  in  the  Wrong,  and,  furthermore» 
would  call  his  Council  the  next  Day  to  decide 
thereon,  which  he  accordingly  did.  Capt. 
Rous,  his  Mate,  and  fome  of  the  Company 
belonging  to  the  Brigantine,  were  called  to  it  : 
Capt.  Vergor  was  alio  call'd,  who  declared, 
the  Facts  in  the  fame  Manner  as  related  here- 
tofore; Capt.  Rous  could  not  but  own,  he  had 
firft  fired  a  Gun  with  Ball  in  the  Fore-Mafk 
of  the  Brigantine.  Whereupon  the  Governor 
aroic,  and  having  ordered  all  the  Officers 
belonging  to  the  Brigantine,  who  were  in  a 
room  adjacent,  to  come  into  the  Council 
Chamber,  they  were  afked  who  had  fired  the 
firft  Gun  ?  And  they  all  replied,  that  Capt. 
Rous  had  fired  two  Volleys.  Immediately 
the  Declaration  of  Capt.  Vergor  was  read  be- 
fore them,  and  they  all  affirmed  it  true  in 
every  Circumftance.  Neverthelefs  nothing 
was  determined,  cither  at  that  Sitting,  nor 
at  five  or  fix  others  which  were  fince  affem* 
bled.  But  two  or  three  Days  after  the  firft 
Sitting,  Governor  Comwallis  afked  Captain 
Vergor  what  he  would  require  to  repair  the 
Brig  fit  for  Sea  Service,  offering  to  provide 
him  with  all  that  was  neceifary  for  that  Pur- 

pofe;; 


(     75    ) 

pofe;  he  anfwered,  he  could  not  do  without 
a  Main-Maft,  and    four   Pieces   of  Cordage. 
The  Governor  promifed  he  fhould  have  therii, 
and  accordingly  ordered  one  to  be  cut  down, 
which  the  Crew  belonging  to  the  Brigant 
drew  out  of  the  Woods,  and  told  Cap  t.  Ver- 
ver  to  fee  that  his  Sails,  his  rigging,  and  every 
Thing  elfe  he  had  Occafion  for,  were  mend- 
ed.    Whilft  this  Captain  was  about  rer 
his  VefTel,  Capt.  Rqus  applied  to  the  Admi- 
ralty, where  the  Brigantine  was  condemned, 
In  a  Letter  which  Governor  CcrnwaUis  wrote 
to  M.    Dcfurbicrs,  a    Commander    at  Cape* 
Breton,  as  he  was  fending  him  back  Mr.  Fcr- 
gcry  and   the  Men  belonging  to  the  Brig,  as 
alfo   their   Arms,  he   faith;  that  the  Admi- 
ralty pronounced  it  a  lawful  Prize,  for  having 
carried  on  an  illicit  Trade  within  the  Prov 
of    his    Britannic   Majcfty.     Theie    are   the 
Terms  he  makes  ufe  of. 
-    There  is  no  Neceflity  of  any  Pro  or  Con  ih 
an  Affair  of  this  Kind.     Here  is  a  Veffcl  fitted 
cut  for  the  Service  of  his  Majcfty,  commanded 
.  by  one  of  his  Majefty's   Officers,  attacked  as 
in  a  Time  of  War.     So  good  an  Opinion  we 
have  of  the  Integrity  of  his  Majçfty  the  King 
pf [Gfeat-Britams  Intentions,  that  we  cannot 
attribute  an  Attempt  fo  contrary  to  all  Manner 
of  Laws,  to  any  Order   from  tlis   raid  Ma- 


(  pf  ) 

jeftyj  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  as  foon  as  hp 
is  acquainted  with  the  Truth  of  thefe  Fads, 
We  may  rely  entirely  on  his  Equity,  concern* 
ing  that  Juftice  and  Satisfaction  thefe  Captures 
call  for,  as  alfo  Orders  to  be  given  to  prercnt 
hereafter- the  like  Abufc.         ,,     . 

An  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Rous, 
Commander  of  kis  Majejlys  *Frigate  the 
Albany.  Dated,  Chibouâou,  in  Nova- 
Scotia,  the  31/Î  of  October,   1750*.        •  \ 

THE  Day  after  having  left  the  river  St. 
John,  as  I  paffed  Cape-Sable,  about 
Noon,  I  difcovered  a  Brigantine  and  a  Schoo- 
ner, turning  the  Gape,'  about  two  Miles  from 
the  Coaft,  fleering  North- Weft;  "and  as  I 
had  before  been  informed  of  a  Brigantine 
which  was  a  Pirate  on  that  CoaftJ  5  I  imme- 
diately gave  her  Chafe  in  order  to  fpeak  to 
her.  As  foon  as  fhe  found  out  who  we  were, 
,.,l     '  .      .   .  U   .   ir^e 

*  That  ExrradT:  was  given  to- his  Majcfty*  s  Mînifter  by 
the  English  Erabaffador,  in  order  toexcufe  the  Gonduéfc  oi 
the  Eng/ijh.  Capt.  Rous  fupprefles  fcveral  eflcntial  Circutn- 
ftances  therein,  and  alters  the  Facts;  neyerthelefs  he  \s 
obliged  to  own  that  he  was  the  AggrcfTor. 

£  By  this  bad  Excufe  the  EngUp  always  cloak  the'g? 

fertilities  at  $c*.  ';, 


(    77    ) 

fhe  made  a  Signal  to  the  Schooner  which  was 
with  her,  who  thereupon  altered  her  Courfe, 
Weft-South- Weft;  coming  pretty  near  Gun- 
Shot  of  the  Brigarîtine,  which  was  fleering 
Weft-North- Weft,  I  fired  one  Gun  at  the 
Fore-Part  of  the  faid  Brigantirie  to  bring  her 
to,  while  the  Schooner  was  making  off  with 
all  Speed.  The  Brjgantinc  put  up  French 
Colours,  and  fired  alfo  one  Gun  ;  the  Schoo- 
ner did  the  fame,  but  put  up  no  Colours. 
When  I  was  come  within  Gun-Shot,  I  fired 
another  Gun  right  a-Head  of  her,  which  flic 
returned,  and  furled  her  Main-Sail  to  make 
room  for  her  fmall  Arms  to  play,  and  pre- 
pared to  engage  us.  *  We  haled  them  when 
we  were  near  enough  to  them,  but  they  re- 
turned no  Anfwer.  I  ordered  a  Six  Pounder 
to  be  fired  upon  them,  and  continued  haling. 
Soon  after  coming  clofc  up  to  her,  fhe  pre- 
sented her  Head  right  upon  oiir  Star-board, 
made  one  half  Turn  to  the  Southward,  in  or- 
der to  prefent  us  her  Larboard,  and  gave  us 
her  whole  Broad-Side,  befides  fmall  Arm?, 
while  we  continued  haling  without  Anfwer. 
I  returned  immediately  a  Broadfide,  and  the 
Fight  Iafted  two  Hours  and  a  Half;  after  which 
fomc  of  them  haled  us  in  Eng/ijh,  that  they 
wsuld  not  fire  any  longer.  I  ordered  them  to 
ilrikc,  and  fent  my  Lieutenant  on  board,  who 

brought 


(    7'    ) 


brought  mc  the  Captain  of  the  Brigantine  and 
his  Papers,  whereby  I  prefently  difcovercd  it 
to  be  the  St.  Francis  Brigantine,  of  about  a 
Hundred  and  Twenty  Tons,  mounting  ten 
Guns,  and  four  Swivels,  having  Sixty  Men 
onboard,  including  Thirty  Soldiers;  that  fhe 
had  been  laden  at  Quebec  with  Arms,  Ammu- 
nition, Cloathing  and  Provifions  for  the  In- 
dians >  and  had  been  fitted  out  to  convoy  the 
Schooner  aforefaid,  which  had  made  her  Ef- 
cape  during  the  Engagement,  and  was  alfo 
laden  with. the  like  Efrefts. 

I  have  brought  the  Brigantine  to  this  Port, 
where  file  has  been  condemned  by  &  Court  of 
Admiralty,  for  carrying  on  a  prohibited  Trade  : 
Here  is  annexed  a  Copy  of  the  Sentence  pro- 
nounced by  the  faid  Court,  your  Excellencies 
will  be  pleafed  to  perufc  k. 

We  had  two  Men  killed,  and  one  wounded  I 
during  the  Fight.    On  board  the  Brigantine  : 
were  Six  killed,  and   Seven  wounded.     The: 
Commander  of  the  Brigantine,  kith,  fhe  is  a 
King's  Ship:  Though  he  has  no  Commiffion 
from  the  Crown,  only  an   Order   from  the 
Governor  of  Ca?iada,   to  command  the  faid 
Veffel,  and  to   convoy  the  Schooner  to  the! 
rivera.  John-,  where,  after  having  unladen] 
the   Ammunition  and  the  Prefents    deftined 
for  the  fndi&Ms,  fhe  was  to  return  to  Quebec^ 
there  to  be  difarmed.  I 


(    79    ) 

I  muft  inform  your  Honours,  that  when  1 
came  here  laft,  I  law  his  MajenVs  Frigate 
the  Tryal  returning  from  a  Cruize  in  Bay- 
Vert y  where,  upon  the  8th  of  Augu/i  iaft,  me 
had  taken  a  French  Sloop  called  the  London? 
from  Canada,  Le  Gras,  Mafter  ;  and  having 
examined  his  Papers,  found  that  the  Bufinefs 
of  this  Veffel  was  to  carry  Ammunition,  Pro- 
vifions,  and  other  Goods  to  the  Indians,  who 
are  in  a  Province  belonging  to  his  Majcfty  ; 
whereupon  the  Tryal  took  her,  and  brought 
her  to  this  Port,  where  fhe  was  condemned 
by  his  Majefty's  Court  of  Admiralty,  for  ha- 
ving carried  on  an  illicit  Trade. 

NUMB.    IV. 

An  Extract  of  a  Letter  written  by  M. 
de  la  Jonquiere,  Governor  of  Canada,  to 
Governor  Cornwaliis,  of  Nova-Scotia,  dated 
Quebec,  April  id,   1750. 

THE  King  my  Mafter  is  already  acquaint- 
ed with  the  Orders  which  I  have 
given  to  the  lèverai  Officers  that  were  fent 
by  rnçto  command  the  Forts  aforefoid,  to  tvit* 
to  allow  ho  Body  to  fettle  near  rhem,  and 
even  to  oppofe  fuch  by  Force  of  Arms  as 
would  offer  to  moleft  them,  after  my  Orders 

were 


(    «à    ) 

were  made  known  to  them  :  However,  I 
fhall  give  them  no  Orders  to  raifc  any  Forti- 
fications, until  the  Commiffioners,  who  arc 
undoubtedly  nominated,  have  regulated  the 
true  Boundaries  of  Nova-Scotiai  and  which 
are  to  belong  to  Nemo-France*  Thofe  Limits 
have  never  been  regulated,  fince  you  acknow- 
ledge that  Commiffioners  are  nominated  for 
that  Purpofc;  and  that  is  the  very  reafori 
which  engages  me  to  fend  Troops  to  keep 
the  faid  Stations,  until  Matters  arc  adjufted 
between  the  two  Crowns. 

I  hope  you  will  fcrioufly  obferve  this  Letter' 
which  I  fend  you .  You  have  no  Doubt  ac- 
quainted the  King  your  Mafter  of  all  that  is 
done  ;  and  as  you  have  given  me  to  under- 
ftand,  that  you  will  do  your  Duty  whilft  yoh 
are  waiting  for  his  Majefty's  Ordenj,  I  alfo 
give  you  Notice,  that  I  fhall  not  fail  to  d# 
mine. 

A  report  prevails  here,  that  Mr.  Goram  has 
arrefted  M.  Girard  the  Abbot  who  is  the 
Curate  of  Copeguit  ;  I  know  not  the  reafons 
for  fuch  a  Proceeding  ;  but  as  he  is  a  Subject 
of  the  King  my  Mafter,  I  defire  you  would 
fend  him  Home  forthwith* 


....  j 


(     8i     ) 

A  Memorial  containing  the  Complaints  of 
England,  and  delivered  to  M.  the  Marquis 
de  Puyzieulx,  the-  jtb  of  July,  1750,  by 
my  Lord  Albemarle. 

BE  it  Known,  that  the  Subfcriber  hereof, 
an  Embaffador  Extraordinary,  and  Mi- 
nifter  Plenipotentiary,  of  his  Majefty  the 
King  of  Great-Britain,  has  received  Orders 
from  the  King  his  Mafter,  dated  ztHanover  the 
26th  of  laft  Month,  to  reprefent  to  the  Court 
of  France ',  the  extreme  Surprife  his  Majefty 
is  in,  to  learn  the  rafh  Proceedings  of  the 
French  in  America,  under  the  Direction  and 
Authority  of  M.  de  la  Jonquiere,  who  has 
made  no  Scruple  to  avow  them. 

Governor  Cornwallis,  of  Nova-Scotia,  ac- 
quaints the  Duke  of  Bedjord,  in  a  Letter  of 
the  riift  of  May y  this  prefent  Year,  that  the 
French  have  taken  PoiTeffion  of  all  that  Part 
of  Nova-Scotia,  on  the  other  Side  of  the  Bay 
of  Fundi*,  from  the  river  ChigneSîo,  to  the 
river  St.  John,  fixing  the  firft  for  the  Limits 
of  that  Province. 

L  They 

*  How  could  they  take  Poflcflion  tferéôf,  feeing  the 
Englifc  own  thernfelvcs,  that  the  French  were  Pofleflbrs  of  it 
ever  fince  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht.  But  M.  de  U.  Conquiert  fene 
a  Detachment  to  prevent  the  Evglifi  from  cxecufing  a  Project 
which  they  thcmfclvcs  hadfprmed  to  take  PofT-ilton  thereof 


(     82     ) 

They  have  reduced  Beau-baJJln  to  Afhes, 
and  tranfported  all  the  Inhabitants  and  their 
Effeâs  beyond  the  riverj,  have  forced  them 
to  take  up  Arms,  and  have  formed  them 
into  Companies  ;  fo  that  Mr.  Lacome  (a 
French  Officer)  has  there  a  Body  of  Two 
Thoufand  Five  Hundred  Men,  compofed  of 
Regulars,  Canadians>  and  Indians. 

Mr.  de  Lacome ',  and  Father  Loutre  (a 
French  Mifiïonary)  havç  often  threatned  the 
Inhabitants  of,  that  Province,  and  as  often 
promifed  them  Prefents,  m  order  to  perfwade 
them  to  leave  the  Country*. 

The  Inhabitants  do  not  Scrapie  to  declare, 
that  thofe  Proceedings  are  contrary  to  their 
Inclinations;  but  that  Meffii.  Lacome  and 
Loutre \  threaten  to  fet  the  Indians  on  to 
Murder  them,  if  they  tarry  in  the  Province» 

They  proted;  and   fupport,   in  open  View, 

all  thofe  Indians  who  are  willing  to  fide  with 

them*  although  our  moft  inveterate  Enemies. 

L  2  They 

■if.  By  Beau  b/rjfm  is  here  underftord  a  French  Settlement 
at  Chi?r,>8o>  which  rhe  French  were  obliged  to  quit.  S-tting 
Fire  to  ones  own  Habitation,  upon  being  frightened  by  the 
News  of  an  Invafion,  cannot  be  called  committing  an  Hoitility. 

*  How  ihall  we  reconcile  the  leaving  of  a  Country 
which  is  poiïcfièd  by  the  French,  with  an  Inrafion  laid  to 
their  Charge. 


(     §3     ) 

They  detain  the  Subjects  of  the  King  of 
G -cat-Britain^  make  his  Officers  and  Sol- 
diers Prifoners.  They  ftir  up  the  French 
Sabjecîs  of  his  Majefty  to  rebellion,  and 
threaten  to  cue  off  all  thofe  who  remain  true. 
They  fend  the  Indians  who  are  their  Slaves, 
all  over  the  Province,  who  commit  all  manner 
of  Cruelties. 

They  have  fet  Fire  to  fome  Towns,  which 
they  themfelves  acknowledge  were  belonging 
to  his  Majefty*. 

Governor  Comwallis  fent  Major  taflwrtncc* 
with  a  Detachment  to  Cbigneclo,  who  arrived 
there  the  20th  of  Vê&Jpril  ;  they  faw  theTown 
oîChigneclo  burnt  to  Afli^s,the  French  Colours 
planted  on  the  Bank,  and  Mr.  Laccrne  at  the 
Head  of  his  Detachment,  daring  Major  Law- 
rence ^  and  declaring  he  would  defend  that 
Country,  to  the  very  lait,  as  a  Place  belong- 
ing to  France. 


L  z  Mr* 

II  The  Embaflfador  ought  to  have  nar  -.  of  them 

But  that  w*s  out  ot  his  Power. 


*  There  was  nor  a  Town  |n  the  IflhnttHl  all  rhir  v.-rre 
burnt,  were  fome  few  Cabins,  which  were  built  at  Gfe/aie&t 
To  which  the  Indians  fet  Fire  themfelves,  woe»  thev  and  the 
frtpcb    were    obliged    to    ft/   at  the  Attack  of  Go 

CtMW*IliS- 


(     84     ) 

Mr.  Lacorne  having  delired  a  Conference 
with  %  Major  Lawrence,  the  latter  went  to 
him,  accompanied  by  two  Captains,  and 
having  afked  faid  Lacorne  by  what  Orders 
he  thus  invaded  the  Territories  of  his  Majefty 
the  King  of  Great-Britain,  and  there  com- 
mitted iiich  Outrages;  he  arifwercd,  that 
what  he  did  was  by  Virtue  of  the  Orders  of 
M.  de  la  Jonquiere,  who  had  commanded  him 
to  take  PoiTeffion  of  Chiboudi,  the  river  St. 
John,  Marem-Cook,  Pitcodiack,  and  all  that 
Part  of  the  Country,  as  belonging  to  his  moft 
Chrifiian  Majefty,  and  would  at  leaft  keep 
and  defend  it||,  until  the  Limits  were  fettled 
by  the  Commiffioners  appointed  for  that 
Purpofe. 

Although  the  Detachment  of  regular 
Troops,  commanded  by  Major  Lawrence, 
was    little  inferior   to  that  which  M.  de  la 

Come 


%  M.  de  It  Come  could  not  come  with  any  De/i^n  to 
attack,  feeing  hi?  Defire  was  to  come  to  a  Parley.  Governor 
Comwaltis  was  there  before  him,  what  could  his  Bufineis  bç 
at  that  Place  1  Which  was  pofïefied  by  the  French  at  leaft 
till  then. 

H  Keeping  and  defending,  cannot  be  called  an  invading  \ 
that  is  true. 


(     «5     ) 

Corne  headed,  yet  the  *  Orders  of  his  Ma- 
jefty, detained  him  from  committing  any 
aft  of  Hoftility. 

His  Majefty  cannot  imagine  that  the  Court 
of  France  has  any  Knowledge  of  iuch  Out- 
rages, nay  he  is  fo  convinced  of  the  Equity 
of  his  mod  Chriftian  Majefty,  and  of  his 
Defire  to  maintain  a  good  Underftanding 
between  the  two  Crowns,  that  he  will  make 
no  Scruple  to  diiapprove  of  them. 

Governor  Cornwallis  never  had  the  leaft 
Intention  to  form  any  Settlements  beyond  the 
Limits  of  the  Feninfula-\,  or  in  fuch  Parts 
of  the  Country,  as  France  did  not  look  upon 
to  belong  to  him  ;  nor  was  it  ever  the  Defign 
of  his  Majefty  in  fettling  his  Province  of 
Nova-Scotia,  to  encroach   upon  the  rights  of 

his 


*  How  came  it  to  pafs  that  thofe  very  Orders  did  hot 
keep  him  from  advancing  fo  far  with  his  Troops 7  He  ac- 
knowledges that  the  Detachment  of  M.  de  U  Corne  was  fupe- 
rior  to  his  ;  that  Detachment  was  no  Doubt  a  Difaopointment 
to  his  Dcfigns;  it  was  therefore  very  well  done  in  the  Mar- 
quis ds  la  Jor>quiere>  to  fend  Troops  to  Oppofe  the  Invafion. 

f  That  is  poficive,  and  the  Englifb  acknowledge  it  thew- 
felves,  at  leaft  they  had  no  Liberty  to  form  Schemes  in  the 
Continent,  before  the  Determination  made  by  CommhTioners. 
But  did  they  wait  till  then  \ 


(     86     ) 

b'«c  r^AChrijîian  Majefty,  or  to  take  PoiTeffion 
by  Force  of  A  ras  of  any  Country,  whofe 
right  and  Property  his  Majefty  had  before 
a^  ecci  mould  be  determined  by  Commlffio- 
ncrs  nominated  for  that  Purpofe,  until  the 
regulation  of  the  Limits  be  effectually  decided. 
The  Ambaflador  is  ordered  to  require  a 
Disapprobation  of  M.  de  la  jenquiere's  Con- 
duct  j  and  that  pofitive  Orders  be  fent  him 
forthwith  to  withdraw  his  Troops,  as  alfo 
the  Indians  who  are  under  his  Command, 
f'om  off  thofe  Places  belonging  -  to  Great* 
Iriiain;  that  Satisfaction  be  given  for  Inju- 
re committed,  and  for  the  Wrongs  which 
the  Subjects  of  his  Majefty  have  fuffered. 
Kis  Majefty  is  fully  perfwaded,  that  the 
Court  of  France  will  readily  confent  to  deliver 
the  laid  Ambaffador,  a  Duplicate  of  whatever 
Oiders  may  be  fent  to  the  Governor  of  Ca- 
nada ^  that  he  may  fend  it  to  his  Court. 
Compagne^  the  Seventh  of  July,  One  Thou>- 
iànd  Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty. 

Signed,     Albemarle. 


0    87     ) 

A  Letter  from  the  Marquis  dc  Puyzieulx, 
to  my  Lord  Albemarle,  as  a  preliminary 
An  fiver    to   the    Complaints   flféfementieneœ, 

un1  il  his  moll  Christian  lia] ejly  fiouli  receive 
from  Canada,  an  exacJ  Account  of  lue  : 
iohich  had  cccafi&ned  'ihem. 

Compagne,  June  23,   1750. 
S  1  R, 

THE  Memorial  which  your  Excellency 
fent  me,  concerning  the  Complaints 
made  by  Governor  Cornwallis,  of  Neva- Sco- 
tia, contains  feveral  Fadts,  fo  contrary  to  that 
Equity  which  is  due  to  his  Majefty,  and  to 
the  Inductions  which  M.  de  la  Jonquiere  has 
received,  that  if  they  are  Juch  as  the  Memo- 
rial reprefents  them  to  be  -,  the  King  will 
Order  that  Satisfaction  be  made  to  the  Sub- 
jects of  his  Britan?iic  Majefty,  and  will  fend 
new  Inftruclions  in  order  to  prevent  all 
Manner  of  Difputcs  between  the  two  Na- 
tions, not  doubting,  his  Britannic  Majefty 
will  give  the  like  Orders  on  his  Part.  Permit 
me,  Sir,  to  tell  you,  that  I  cannot  help 
thinking  the  Declaration  of  the  Ftich  is 
much  exaggerated  -,  and  as  I  know  M.  de  Id 
Jonquiere,  is  a  Gentleman  of  Wifdcm,  and 
know  alfo  his  Inftrudtions,  I  am  forry  Go- 
vernor Cornwallis  did  not  apply  to  him,  he- 
fore 


(     83     ) 

fore  he  fent  Complaints  to  his  Court  ;  I  fent 
immediately  your  Memorial  to  M.  Rouille, 
defiring  him  to  enquire  with  all  Speed  how 
Affairs  were  tranfacted  in  Canada,  and  to  let 
me  know  them,  that  I  may  be  able  to  Anfwer 
your  Excellency  in  a  more  pofitive  Manner. 

I  have  the  Honour  to  be,  &c. 

Signed,     Puyzieulx. 

P.  S.  Perhaps  Governor  Cornwallis  may 
have  formed  Settlements  on  fome  Lands  con- 
tended for,  or  on  the  King's  Territories. 


A  Letter  fent  by  M.  Rouille  to  M.  de  la 
Jonquiere,  a  Copy  of  which  was  fent  on  the 
t$tb  of  July,   1750,  to  my  Lord  Albemarle. 

Verf ailles,  July  the  nth,   1750. 

Sir, 

I  Send  you  the  Copy  of  a  Memorial  di- 
rected to  the  Marquis  de  Puyzieulx,  from 
the  Embaffador  of  Great-Britain  -,  wherein 
you  will  fee  the  Complaints  made  by  the 
Britifh  Court,  concerning  certain  Tranfacti 'uis 
on  the  Frontiers  of  Canada  and  Nova-Scoti%i 

If 


(     «9     ) 

If  any  of  the  French  Inhabitants  in  thofë 
Parts,  he  guilty  of  the  Outrages  there  com- 
plained of,  they  would  deferve  Puni&ment, 
and  the  King  would  make  an  Example  of 
them.  His  Majefty  therefore  defires  you 
would  fend  me,  by  the  firft  Opportunity,  a 
faithful  and  true  Account  of  the  Facts,  that 
I  may  acquaint  him  with  the  Particulars 
■thereof. 

The  King  âlfo  commands  me  to  put  you 
in  Mind  of  the  feveral  Orders  which  his 
Majefty  has  already  given  you,  concerning 
the  Manner  in  which  you  are  to  conduct 
yourfelf  towards  the  Englifh^  especially  in 
every  Thing  that  regards  the  Limits  of  the 
respective  Colonies,  till  they  are  regulated  * 
in  fupporting  his  jufl  rights  againft  every 
Attempt  which  might  tend  to  invade  them  : 
You  arc  alfo  to  Attempt  nothing  againft  the. 
rights  of  the  EngHJhj  but  to  treat  them  in 
fuch  a  refpectful  Manner,  as  may  be  con- 
fident with  the  Honour  of  the  Nation,  and 
the  Prefervation  of  its  Poffeffions  ;  you  are 
alfo  to  take  Care  that  thofe  Officers,  who 
(lull  be  fent  by  you,  from  Time  to  Time, 
to  fuch  Block-Houfes  as  are  adjacent  to  the 
■Eng/ijh  Colonies,  behave  likewife  in  the  fame 
Manner  :  In  a  Word,  prevent  every  Thing 
which  might  occafion  any  juft  Caufe  of  Com- 
M  '  plaint 


(     9°     ) 

plaint  againft  you.  His  Britannic  Majefty,  as 
I  have  already  acquainted  you,  has  prefcnbtd 
to  the  Governors  of  his  Colonies,  the  like 
Condudt  relpecling  you.  There  is  rcaion  t© 
hope  that  all  Things  will  he  carried  on  be- 
tween both  Parties,  in  a  Manner  agreeable 
to  the  Views  of  their  Majefties,  for  the  Sup- 
port of  the  Union  of  both  Nations.  Once 
more,  his  Majefty  charges  you  to  undertake 
nothing  that  might  caufe  any  Diforder. 
/  am>  &c. 

Signed,     Rouille. 

A  Mrmorial  in  Anfwer  to  the  Complaints 
made  by  England,  and  jent  the  i$th  of 
September,  to  my  Lord  Albemarle*. 

TWO  effential  Obfervations  have  been 
made  in  the  Anfwer  to  the  Memorial 
fent  by  the  Earl  of  Albemarle  to  the  Marquis 
de  Puyzieidx,  concerning  the  Complaints  of 
Governor  Cornwallis,  of  Nova- Scotia. 

'iji>  That  it  is  not  reafonable,that  thofc  Out- 
rages, which  the  faid  Governor  imputes  to 
the  French  Officers,  mould  be  left  to  his 
Declaration  only  \  that  his  Majefty  would  get 

an 

*    Exaôî  News   of  what   bad  pajfed  in. 
America  bad  then  been  received, 


(     9*     ) 

an  Account  of  what  had  paffed;  nnd  if  the 
Facts  he  complained  of,  were  founded  on 
re...  on,  his  Majefty  would  not  hcfitate  to 
puniftl  t1^cm  accordingly. 

zJ,  That  his  Majeity  was  about  renewing 
his  Orders  to  the  Marquis  de  la  jfonquiere,  on 
the  chief  Subject  relating  to  Limits  in  the 
mod  pofitive  Terms,  that  the  French  within 
his  Government,  fhould  behave  in  a  Manner 
agreeable  to  that  good  Correlpondence  ex;  fling 
bècween  the  two  Nations,  and  to  the  Inten- 
tions of  his  Majefty,for  ftrengthenîng  thereof; 
bein?;  confident  that  hlsBritanmcMmcibr  would 
give  the  like  Orders  to  the  Governors  of  his  Co- 
lonies,  to  act  according  to  the  fame  Principles, 

We  have  not  yet  been  able  to  know  cer- 
ta:nTy  whether  his  Majefly  font  any  Orders  : 
However,  by  Letters  from  the  Marquis  de  la 
Conquière,  and  M.  Dejherbiers}  Commander 
of  Cape-Breton,  which  are  j uft  come  to  Hand, 
we  are  now  enabled  to  convince  the  Err 
Miniftry,  that  the  two  forementioned  Obier- 
vations  were  well  grounded.  Gove?  no<*  Corn- 
wallis  began  in  the  Month  of  March  to  raife 
eonfiderable  Forces,  and  fent  even  to  Bojlon 
to  demand  military  Succours  from  that  Colony 
to  that  End. 

Towards  the  latter  End  of  Augujl,  lèverai 

Troops,    and  fomc   Field-Pieces,    lender  die 

M  î  Command 


(     92     ) 

Command  of  Major  Lawrence,  were  put  on 
board  lèverai  Veffels,  under  Convoy  of  the 
Albany  Frigate  of  eighteen  Guns,  in  order  to 
to  attack  M.  de  la  Corne,  Captain  of  the  Ca- 
nadian  Troops,  in  the  Pofrs  which  he  pcfleffed, 
and  to  make  himlelf  Matter  of  them  ;  alio  to 
force  the  French  Inhabitants  and  the  Indians \ 
to  fubmit  to  whatever  Conditions  he  thought 
proper  to  lay  on  them. 

The  fitting  out  of  thefe  Troops,  as  alfo  the 
Threats  of  Governor  Cornwallis,  who  made 
no  Myftery  of  his  Projects,  exafpe rated  the 
Indians,  and  alarmed  the  Inhabitants  even  of 
fome  Parts  of  Acadia,  who,  terrified  at  the 
Attempts  and  Propofals  of  that  Government, 
and  feeing  the  Veffels  at  Anchor  in  an  Harbour 
belonging  to  the  French  Bay,  called  Le  Grand 
Maringouin,  or  great  Mufketto  Harbour  ;  and 
one  of  the  VeiTels  making  towards  Beau^ 
bajjin,  the  Inhabitants  of  that  Place  betook 
themfelves  to  Flight,  and  the  Indians  imme- 
diately fet  it  on  Fire.  This  happened,  Mm 
the  Second. 

The  fame  Day,  Major  Lawrence  landed 
his  Englijh  Troops  on  the  Continent,  upon. 
a  Point  of  Land  called  Beau-fejour.  The 
Captain  of  that  Place  having  with  him  a. 
white  Flag,  fpoke  to  them,  and  gave  them 

fa 


(     93     ) 

lo  underfland,  that  thofc  Lands  belonged  to 
France,  and  that  his  Orders  were  to  bid 
them  depart. 

Whereupon  the  Englijh  defired  to  fpeak 
with  the  French  General.  M.  de  Lacorne 
having  had  Intelligence  of  their  March,  alfo 
came  there,  defiring  himfelf  to  have  a  Con- 
ference with  the  Englijh  General.  After 
fome  mort  Difcourfe  between  the  Subalterns, 
Major  Lawrence  agreed  to  the  Conference, 
and  M.  de  la  Come  met  him  half  Way. 

The  Englijli  Commander  told  M.  la  Corne 
that  he  was  furprized  at  their  fetting  Fire  to 
Beau-baJJin,  and  to  find  the  French  on  Englijh 
Territories  :  that  General  Cornwallis  had  given 
him  Orders  to  bid  him  withdraw,  that  it  was 
contrary  to  the  Law  of  Nations,  and  contrary 
to  Juflice,  to  take  Poffeffion  of  thofc  Terri- 
tories, and  to  encourage  the  Indians  to  a  War 
againft  the  EngliJJj. 

The  French  General  anfwercd  Major  Law- 
rence, that  he  aught  not  to  be  furprized  to 
find  him  in  the  Forts  which  he  pofTefTed,  and 
that  M.  de  la  Jonquiere  had  acquainted  Go- 
vernor Comwailis  thereof  before  ;  that  it  was 
without  any  Foundation  that  he  reproached 
him  with  the  Commotions  of  the  Acadians^ 
that  he  had  no  Part  therein,  nor  in  fetting 
Beau-bafjin  on  Fire,  that  the  Indians  were  the 

fole 


(     94     ) 

foîc  Authors  thereof;  moreover,  that  his 
Orders  were  to  allow  no  Englijh  to  make  any 
Deiccnt  upon  that  Coaft,  which  belonged  to 
France y  and  to  repei  Force  by  Force.  Here- 
upon, the  two  Commanders  parted,  and 
Major  Lawrence  made  a  Signal  for  his  Troops 
to  embark,  which  was  immediately  done. 

This  is  a  particular  Account  of  what  hap- 
pened in  that  Adventure,  in  Confequence  of 
wnich,  Governor  CornivaUis  thought  proper 
to  be  the  firft  in  fending  Complaints  ;  what 
he  faid  himfelf  as  to  the  March  of  his  Troops 
is  right  3  but  from  thence  it  follows,  that  the 
French  did  not  enter  the  Peninfuîa  of  Acadia, 
as  was  fet  forth  ;  they  had  no  Hand  in  thofe 
Outrages  committed  by  the  Indians,  nor  in 
the  Commotions  of  the  Acadians  ;  it  is  there- 
fore with  the  greateft  Injuftice  that  Governor 
Cvrnuoallis  attributes  the  Caufes  thereof  to  the 
French \  hie  own  Con  duel:  towards  thofe  Peo- 
ple being  the  foie  Occaiicn  thereof.  What 
is  here  advanced,  concerning  the  Conduct  of 
that  Governor,  is  well  known,  having  been 
publi,ckly  related  at  London. 

The  Preparations  which  the  faid  Governor 
was  making  for  War,  and  the  Occafion 
thereof,  were  infertcd  in  the  Gazette  at  Bojl<m, 
in  New-England,  and  were  looked  upon  as 
zn.  Aft  of  Hoftilitv  on.  his  Part. 

The 


(     95     ) 

The  26th  of  lift  Augufî\  Letters  from 
Halifax  were  printed  in  London,  containing, 
not  only  a  particular  Account  of  all  the  Pre- 
parations  of  that  Expedition,  but  alio  an  Affair 
which  had  precceded  it,  in  the  Peninfula 
aforefaid,  between  the  EngHJh  Troops  and 
the  Indians. 

According  to  the  Teflimonies  of  thofe  very 
Letters,  Governor  Cornwallis  acted  againit 
thofe  Indians  as  in  a  Time  of  open  War, 
The  Inhabitants  of  his  ov/a  Government; 
and  even  thefe  French  themlelves  who  2rc  the 
Kings  Subjects,  were  no  better  ufed. 

Wc  have  Accounts  from  elfewherc,  that 
it  was  currently  reported  in  that  Country, 
that  the  fame  Governor  had  laid  a  Scheme 
for  other  Attempts,  and  by  a  Letter  which 
he  wrote  to  the  Marquis  Je  la  jonquitrc^ 
dated  the  5th  of  May,  G.  S.  a  Copy  of 
which  is  here  annexed,  it  is  apparent  how 
little  he  was  inclined  to  a  Peace. 

The  King  has  reafon  to  hope  for  Jufticr? 
from  his  Britannic  Majefty,  that  he  will 
give  Governor  Cornwallis  Orders  to  obfervc  a 
Conduct  more  moderate,  and  more  agreeable 
to  the  Intentions  of  the  two  Courts  for  the 
Eftablifhment  of  Peace,  and  that  he  will  not 
allow  the  faid  Governor  to  take  Meafures  (o 
contrary  to  the  Stipulations  of  :b~  Treaties 

of 


(     96     } 

of  Utrecht  and  Aix-la-Chapelle \  and  to"  the 
Defign  of  that  Commiffion  which  is  fettled 
at  Paris» 

The  King  is  pleafed  to  repeat  here,  that 
mould  any  of  his  Officers  make  any  Attempt 
of  that  Kind,  when  there  is  no  Neceffity  to 
repel  Force  by  Force,  his  Majefty  would  not 
hefitate  to  make  a  public  Example  of  them* 
He  has  renewed  his  Orders  to  them  on  that 
Head  in  fuch  a  Manner,  that  they  will  not 
infringe  them  :  It  may  be  alfo  depended  upon, 
that  in  their  Correfpondence  with  the  Brilijh 
Officers,  they  will  never  make  ufe  of  fuch 
Declamations  as  could  not  be  approved  of, 
even  in  the  fmarteft  War.  The  Stile  of  the 
Letter  which  Governor  Ccrnwallis  fent  to 
M.  de  la  Jonquiere,  dated  Halifax^  May  the 
5th,  O.  S.  We  leave  tô  his  Majefty  to 
judge  of. 

We  ihall  conclude  with  this  Obfervation  i 
When  M.  de  la  Conquière  had  received  Order» 
from  his  moft  Chrijlian-  Majefty,  for  an  Ex- 
change of  Prifoners  laft  Winter,  he  fent,  with- 
out Delay,  all  thofe  who  were  in  his  Cuftody* 
to  an  Englijh  Officer  belonging  to  the  Pro- 
vince of  New-Tork  >  and  gave  the  ftridteft 
Orders  throughout  his  Government,  that  the 
readieft  Methods  might  be  taken  for  the  re- 
demption of  fuch  Englijh  Prifoners  as  were 


(     97     ) 

the  Cuftody  of  the  Indian  Nations.  This 
he  did,  without  waiting  for  Securities,  which 
had  a  right  to  demand  from  the  EngUJh 
Governors.  By  this  the  Englijh  Miniilry  may 
fee,  the  good  Difpolitions  of  the  French  Go- 
vernor, as  alio  what  Orders  were  given  him, 
relating  to  every  Thing  that  might  tend  to  a 
•n  between  the  two  Nations. 

The  E?iglifi  Governors,  'tis  to  be  hoped, 
have  been  as  diligent  and  faithful  in  fending 
Home  the  French  Prifoncrs  ;  the  Englijh 
Court,  no  Doubt,  will  be  ready,  whatever 
happens,  to  renew  their  Orders  to  their  faid 
Governors,  to  prevent  all  future  Complaints 
on  that  Head. 

NUMB.    V. 

An  Extract  of  the  Examination  of  four 
Engiifh  Traders y  who  were  arrefted  en  the 
Territories  (^France*, 

/^\N  the  19th  Day  of  June,  1751,  in  the 
KJr  Forenoon,  before  us  the  Marquis  de 
la  Jonquiereç  Knight  of  the  Royal  and  Mili- 
tary Order  of  Saint  Lewis,  Admiral,  and 
N  Lieutenant 

*  Thofe  Examinations  will  prove  that  Englif)  Traders 
could  obtain  a  Licence  from  the  Governor  of  Penfifj/toani*  in 
order  to  Trade  on  French  Territories,  and  that  he  had  a  ! 
whofe  Bufinefs  it  was  to  give  Prcfenfc  to  Indians  there  refw 
to  ftir  ihcm  up  to  a  War, 


(     93     ) 

Lieutenant  Governor  of  all  New- France,  I  fit 
Royale,  and  the  Territories  of  Louifianna  ; 
as  alio  in  the  Prefence  of  Baron  de  Lonqueil, 
Governor  of  the  City  and  Province  of  Mont- 
real, and  Mr.  Varin,  a  Director  of  Aiïairs  in 
the  City  aforefaid,  at  a  Council  held  in  the 
Caftl  ?  of  Vaiidrenil,  the  Place  of  our  Abode, 
in  Montreal  aforefaid. 

Peribnally  appeared  four  Englijhmen,  &c. 
hrving  with  us  D am 'el  Jofeph  Maddox,  an 
F?îjijh  Interpreter,  duely  fworn,  and  in  the 
King's  Pay,  to  ferve  us  in  the  faid  Quality, 
to  interpret  whatever  Queftions  and  Anfwers 
might  be  made  between  us  and  the  Englijh~ 
men  aforefaid,  who  we  examined  feparately* 
as  follows  : 

One  of  the  four  appearing  ;  we  gave  him 
to  underftand,  by  the  Interpretation  of  faid 
Maddox,  that  he  muft  be  qualified  to  Anfwer 
us  truly,  whatever  Queftions  we  mould  afk 
him  ;  to  which  he  readily  agreed,  and  laying 
his  Hand  upon  his  Breaft,  according  to  the 
Laws  and  Cuftoms  of  Great-Britain,  he  in 
that  Manner  promifed  and  fwore,  that  he 
would  tell  us  the  Truth. 

We  required  of  him  to  tell  us  his  Name, 
Sir-Name,  Age  and  Profeffion,  as  alfo  where 
he  was  born,  the  Place  of  his  Refidence,  and 


in  what  Kingdom  or  Government.- 


To 


(     99     ) 

To  all  which  he  anfwered,  that  his  Name 
was  Luke  Arowtn,  aged  Twenty-eight  Years, 
that  he  was  a  travelling  Trader,  an  Irijhman 
by  Birth,  and  an  Inhabitant  of  Philadelphia^ 

in  the  Province  of  Pennfyhania. 

§>ue/l.  i/?,  Being  afked  how  long  he  had 
left  Pennfyhania,  where  he  had  been  fince, 
2nd  how  far  he  propoied  to  travel  ?  He  an- 
swered, that  he  did  not  pofitively  remember 
the  Day  of  his  Departure,  but  it  was  in  Au- 
giiji  iaft,  that  he  went  ftrait  way  to  a  Village 
belonging  to  the  Sbawancje  on  the  Okie, 

£>ne/l.  id,  Being  afked  in  whole  Company 
he  was  when  he  left  Pennfyhania,  and  what 
was  his  Defkm  ?  &ç. 

He  aniwered,  that  he  was  in  Company 
with  two  Englifh  Traders,  and  fix  Servants  of 
the  fame  Nation,  and  that  his  Defign  was  to 
Trade  among  the  Indians,  having,  for  that 
Purpofe,  Goods  that  fuited  them,  which  they 
propoied  to  feilfoon,  in  order  to  return  Home 
laden  with  Skins.  That  panics  Hamilton,  Efq; 
Governor  of  Pennfyhania,  had  granted  him 
a  printed  Licence  to  Trade  every  where, 
with  all  friendly  Indians  in  general,  for 
which  he  had  paid  the  faid  Governor,  the 
Sum  of  Fifty  Shillings,  &c. 

^uefi.   3^,    Being  aiked,  whether  he   had 
not  fold  the  Goods  aforefaid,  to  thole  Indians 
N  2  who 


(       100       ) 

who  are  fettled  on  the  Ohio,  Rock-River, 
and  round  about  there,  at  a  low  rate,  en- 
deavouring to  perfwadc  them,  that  his  Goods 
were  much  cheaper  and  better  than  thofe 
fold  by  the  French,  and  how  long  he  had 
been  in  that  Trade  with  them  ? 

He  aniwered,  that  he  had  fold  his  Goods 
to  thofe  Indians  who  are  fettled  on  the  Ohio^ 
Rcck-River,  and  where-ever  he  could  fee 
them,  and  that  he  had  fold  them  very  cheap, 
in  Exchange  for  their  Skins  ;  but  that  he  had 
never  undervalued  the  French  Goods  ;  but 
the  Indians  themfelves  made  a  vaft  Difference 
between  them. 

Queft.  4.th,  Being  afked  if  it  was  not  true 
that  fome  Years  before,  as  well  as  this,  he 
had,  by  Order  of  the  Governor  of  Pcmifylvam a, 
and  at  the  Expence  of  that  Province,  carried 
Meffages,  Wampum,  Engli/Jj  Duck  for  Tents, 
and  Hatchets  to  the  faid  Indians,  as  alfo  con- 
fiderable  Prefents,  and  Abundance  of  rum, 
in  order  to  induce  them  to  acknowledge  no 
other  than  the  Engli/Jj,  and  to  animate  them 
againft  the  French,  and  to  engage  them  to 
dertroy  the  French,  promising  them  for  that 
Purpofe,  a  Sum  of  Money  for  every  French 
Scalp  ?  If  he  could  not  fpeak  the  Shdwanefe 
Language,  or  any  of  the  Languages  fpoken 
by  the  Indians    who  are  fettled   on   River- 

Blanch, 


(       '°|       ) 

&lançb,ot  elfewKferc;  and  if  the  faid  Governor 
had  not  fent  him  on  that  Account  to  the  river 
Ohio,  Rock-River,  and  to  other  Parts,  in 
order  to  accomplish  his  Views  ? 

He  anfwered,  that  he  had  carried  Wam- 
pum, Hatchets,  and  rum,  in  order  to  trade 
with  thofe  Indians;  but  that  from  or  by  Order 
of  the  Governor,  he  had  never  carried  then* 
either  Meffages  or  any  Thing  cKq;  that  the 
Governor  employed  for  that  Purpofe,  one 
George  Croghan,  a  Trader,  whom  he  fent  with 
all  his  Meffages  to  thofe  Indians,  and  who  had 
continually  a  Native  of  Canada  with  him, 
named  Andrew  Montour  (as  he  had  been 
informed)  who  underftood  the  Indian  Lan- 
guages perfectly  well  ;  that  he  could  not 
tell  whether  the  faid  Croghan  was  then  at  that 
Time  among  thofe  Indians,  but  he  knew  he 
had  Orders  from  the  Governor  to  depart  foon 
after  him,  in  Quality  of  an  Exprefs  to  the 
Mi  ami  s  Indians,  and  to  feveral  other  Nations, 
and  that  for  the  following  reafon,  to  wit  *  ; 
The  Mi  ami  s  Indians  aforefaid,  came  laft 
Spring  to  pay  the  faid  Croghan  a  Vifit  at 
Vefzak,  or  Oghwick,  (where  he  and  fixteen 
other  Traders  are  fettled)   to  intreat  him  to 

receive 

*  The  Depofition  rf  the  fourth  Englifh- 
xnm  proves  the  Falfiood  of  this  Excufe. 


(       *°2       ) 

receive  them  ;  whereupon  the  faid  Montour 
went  to  thofe  Indians,  to  affure  them,  in  the 
Name  of  the  faid  Governor,  that  the  Englijh 
would  receive  them  well  ;  but  he  could  not 
tell  if  the  Governor  had  given  Orders  to  ftir 
up  thole  Nations  to  deftroy  the  French,  for 
the  Miamis  Indians  were  not  arrived  at  Phi* 
ladelphia  when  he  left  it,  and  nothing  had 
tranfpired;  he  acknowledged  that  he  could 
fpeak  Shawanefe,  and  feveral  other  Indian 
Languages,  but  the  Governor  had  never 
made  choice  of  him  as  an  Expref*  to  the 
Indians.  \ 

Quefl.  $th,  &c. 

Slue  ft.  6th,  Being  afked  whether  he  was 
not  at  the  Ohio  in  the  Year  174/9,  with  a 
Number  of  Englijh  Traders,  when  M.  de 
Celoron,  a  Major,  and  Commander  of  the 
Fort  Detroit  was  there,  who  had  Orders  from 
the  Marquis  de  la  Galiftonniere,  Commander 
in  Chief  of  all  New-France,  and  the  Terri- 
tories thereon  depending,  to  fummon  them 
to  withdraw  forthwith  from  the  Territories  of 
the  King  our  Matter  ?  and  whether  they  were 
not  ftridtiy  forbidden  to  return  there  any 
more  ?  and  whether  the  faid  M.  de  Celoron, 
had  not  written  to  the  Governor  of  Pennfyl- 
vania  to  acquaint  him  thereof,  and  to  give 
him  Notice,  that  if  any  more  Engtifo  Traders 

evei 


(     IC3     ) 

ever  appeared  on  the  Territories  of  his  Ma- 
jefty,  he  would  not  be  anfwerablc  to  him, 
for  what  might  happen. 

He  anfwered,  that  he  had  heard  of  M.  de 
ih  Expedition  to  the  Ohio,  and  of  the 
Injunclicns  he  had  laid  upon  the  E?igl:Jh 
Traders,  and  of  the  Letter  he  wrote  to  the 
Governor  of  Pennjylvania;  but  he  thought 
that  the  Licence  he  had  from  the  Governor, 
was  fufficient  to  indemnify  him,  without  re- 
garding any  Orders  to  the  Contrary. 

Then  was  read  before  the  faid  Luke  Aroivin^ 
the  whole  Examination,  &c. 

The  fécond  Englifliman  appearing  before 
us,  we  gave  him  tounderfland,  by  the  Inter- 
pretation of  the  faid  Maddox,  that  he  muft  be 
qualified  to  Anfwer  us  truly,  whatever  Que- 
f  ions  we  fhould  ails:  him,  to  which  he  readily 
agreed,  and  laying  his  Hand  upon  his  Breaft, 
according  to  the  Laws  and  Cufroms  oî  Great- 
Britain,  he  in  that  Manner  promifed  and 
fwore,  that  he  would   fpeak  the  Truth. 

We  reauired  of  him  to  tell  us  his  Name, 
Sir-Name,  his  Age  and  Profeiuon,  as  alfo 
where  he  was  born,  the  Place  of  his  reiidence, 
and  in  what  Kingdom  or  Government  ? 

To  which  he  anfwered  ;  that  his  Name 
was  Jofepb  Fortiher^  aged  Twenty-fix  Years, 
an  hired   Servant,    a  Traveller,  born    in    the 

jerfcys, 


(  ï°4  ) 

^e  belonging  to  the  Province  of 
ttl. 
He  was  examined  on  the  firft  Queftion, 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word; 

To  which  he  anfwered  ;  that  he  had  been 

four  Years  ab  and  lived 

the   mod  Part   of  that  Time  in  the  Woods, 

but  in  the  Winter  he  commonly  retired  to  a 

.-  in  the  Province  of  F  rnia,  called 

it  he  had  traded  with   the  SL-a- 

at  the  icrc-ever  he  could 

He  was  examined  on  the  fécond  Queftion, 

d  for  Word. 
To    which  :  ;   that  he   fet  out 

tc  trade  with 

x  he  was    hired  to   the  faid 

in   order  to  help  him   with  his  Hones 

d  Goods  ;  tl  the  other  L 

n    who   were   taken,  had  t 

e,  and  I  they  could  not 

rods  he  had  -,  diat 
een  bough  i  the  fame  Per. 

;  that  he  had  a 

m  or  of  Permjyfoama, 

z:   an   I:uian\\ 

called    by    t:  ndack%  ad 

Bein| 


-  ) 

Èei        txau     :cd  on    the    third    Q 

I  to  him  Word  fer  W 
He  cd  3  that  he  had  fold  hi;  G 

to  thoie  N  fettled  on  the  Obi*,  and 

the  adjacent  Parts  ;  that  he  had  :cd 

the  French  Gocd;,  bat  the  I  themfei- 

had  told  him,  that  they  rather  chofe  to 

h  the  Evglife)  kne  be 

ter    and    cheaper  than    thofc    Vrh;: 
French  fold   them  5   that  he  had  traded  v 
thofe  Indium  only  four  Years,  as  afore;" 
He  was  examined  on  the  eight!:  Qud 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word. 

To  which  hcanfwered;  that   In  the  Y 
'"49,  he    '  :    Sufqiiehamiûb,  in  the  P: 

w,  where  he  had  he 
tha:  M         .  at   the  Ci.';,  but  n 

thcr  faid  r. 

read    before   tlu 
Jhrtintr     the        hcie    Examination,  and 
- 
The  third  £  appearing  bd     ' 

-   gave  him  to  une  by  the  I: 

:hat  he  mufl  be  q 

\3    to    which    be 
acre 

!       f 


ig6     }  <0* 

He  snfwered,  that  his  Name  was  Thomas 
Barky  aged  Twenty- three  Years,  a  Traveller, 
a  Native  of  Corky  in  Irelandy  and  now  an 
Inhabitant  of  Lancajlery  in  the  Province  of 
Pennfyhauia. 

He  was  examined  on;  the  firft  Queflion, 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word. 

To  which  he  anfwered;  that  he  had  left 
Ireland  z\mo£t  Eight  Years,  that  it  was  fcarce 
ten  Months  iince  he  left  Sajgnehannah,  that 
he  was  hired  by  'John  Martin  y  an  EngliJJj- 
ina;>iy  who  traded  at  the  Ohio  y  that  he  fet 
cut  with  two  other  hired  Servants,  in  order 
to  trade  near  Oifandojket^  and  from  thence 
intended  to  return  to  Lancajler. 

He  was  examined  on  the  third  Queflion, 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word. 

To  which  he  anfwered;  that  he  had  no 
other  Company  with  him  than  the  two  afore- 
iaid  Englijkmen  ;  that  his  Effects,  including 
his  Horfes,  might  be  valued  at  Fifteen  Hun- 
dred Livres,  but  he  had  "left  them  all  at  a 
jmall  river, .  about  two  Leagues  frcin  where 
the  rev.  Father  de  la  Ri  char  die  had  wintered, 
in  the  Care  of  two  Englifimen,  who  as  foon 
as  they  had  heard  that  Warrants  were  iffued 
out  to  take  them,  had  left  all  and  fled;  that 
the  aforefaid  Goods  were  the  Property  of  the 
iaid  Martin,  he  having  bought  them  of  two 

durèrent 


i 


(     **7    ) 

different  Merchants  in  Philadelphia,  the 
of  one  he  rememhred  was  Shipper  •  that   he 
had  a  Licence  from  the  Governor  of  P 
jihania,  but    had  left    it    at  faid   river 
'his  Effete. 

He  was  examined  on  theeighthQ^icfn-'- 
To  which  he  anfwêréd  ;  tint  he  had  heard 
1  of  M.  de  Celoron  being  at  the  Obi?,  as  alfo  of 
the  Letter  he  had  written,  to  the  Gover; 
of  Pcnnfyhania  \  that  it  wis  infruiled  to  the 
hired  Servants  belonging  to  G'orge;Crôgh$rfi 
the  chic/  Interpreter,  bat  he  could  not  tell 
if  it  had  ever  been  delivered. 

Then    was    road  before   the    fzij     Tb 
Bark,  the   whole  Examination,  and  his  An- 
fwers,  &c. 

The  fourth  Erigitjhman  then  appeared  be- 
fore us,  who  being  qualified,  i$c. 

We  required  of  him  to  tell  ui  his  Nam", 
Sir-Name,  his  Age,  &c. 

He    anfwered,   that  his  Name  was   John 
Patte?i,  aged    Twenty- fix     Years,  an  Li- 
Trader,  a  Native  and  Inhabitant  of  Wilnto 
ton,  in  the  Province  of  Pen?ijyhania. 

He    v/as  examined   on  the  nrft   Queftion, 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word. 
To  which  he  anfwered,  that .  he  had 
Wilmington,  the   24th   of  laft   : 
that  he  fet  out  in  order  to  trade  with  1 

O  2 


(     io8     ) 

Miamis  Indians  who  arc  fettled  on  Rock-Rher, 
about  thirty  Leagues,  as  near  as  he  could 
guefs,  from  the  Miamis-Fcrt. 

He  was  examined  on  the  fécond  Queftionj 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word. 

To  which  he  anfwered,  that  he  had  with 
him  two  hired  Servants,  and  that  he  was  in 
Company  with  an  EngliJJj  Trader  who  had 
five  more;  that  they  all  came  together  to 
Rock-River ',  at  which  Place  they  found  up- 
wards of  fifty  Traders,  including  Servants, 
lodging  in  Cabins  belonging  to  .  the  Mi  amis 
Indians  ;  that  the  Name  of  their  Chief,  was 
La  Demoifelk  %  that  thofe  Cabins  were  in  a 
Fort  ;  that  the  Value  of  his  Goods  amounted 
to  about  Seven  Thoufand  Livres;  that  he  had 
provided  himfelf  at  fetting  out,  with  a  Li- 
cence from  the  Governor  of  Pennfyhanid^^ 
for  which  he  had  paid  a  Piflole,  which  Li- 
cence 


t  I:  is  nécefliry  to  uy  fomething  here  concerning  tiiiofè 
jLicerces  ;  rherjf  are  crin  mi]  a/jainH:  \hc  Laws  of  Trade 
founded  on  Treaties.  TUz  htâtàr&  iiavi::^  no  Territories  of 
their  own,  can  0  eel/  trade  throughout  every  Pii  tor  ^he- 
Country,  whether  belonging  to  die  gngltfc  or  to  the  French. 
As  to  the  Buvtyï'an  Nations,  no:?e  can  trade  with  an»/  lndiatiSy 
except  thole  who  are  on  their  own  Territories.  Therefore 
îhefe  Letters  of  'Licence  granted  to  Traders  by  BfgHjh  Go- 
vernors, in  order  to  permit  them  to  trade  on  Linds  poiïeued 
by  the  French,  are  fo  many  Enterprises  and'Ufafpations  ; 
thofe  BigJ'tjh  Traders,  properly  iueà'ùng,  kept  up  \  Contr^? 
band-Trade  with'  their  Governor^  IVrnvimon* 


(     **>9     ) 

ccnce  he  had  left  with  the  ahovefaid  Miamii 
Indians,  fliut  up  in  a  little  Box  of  his  in  hi; 
Cabin. 

He  was  examined  on  the  third  Queftion, 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word. 

To  which  he  anfwered,  that  he  had  fold 
fomc  Goods  to  the  Indians  who  are  fettled  on 
the  Ohio,  Rock-River,  and  other  adjacent 
Parts  ;  that  it  was  the  firft  Time  of  his  com- 
ing to  Rock-River  y  and  the  only  Way  he 
ufed  to  trade  with,  the  Indians,  was  by  Shew- 
ing them  his  Goods,  and  agreeing  with  them 
as  to  the  Price  ;  but  that  he  had  never  un- 
dervalued the  French  Goods. 

He  was  examined  on  the  fourth  QuefHon* 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word, 

To  which  he  anfwered  ;  he  had  only  heard 
that  the  Governor  of  Pcnnf\iva?iia  had  in- 
truded George  Croghan,  the  head  Indian  In- 
terpreter, with  Goods  to  the  Value  of  a 
Thoufand  Piftoles  ;  and  that  he  went  up  and 
down  the  Woods  with  the  faid  Montour,  a 
French  Canadian,  in  order  to  distribute  the 
faid  Goods  among  the  Indians  who  are  fettled 
pn  the  Ohio,  Rock-River,  and  particularly 
the  Mi 'ami 's  Indians,  and  further  faith  not; 
h  :  denied  knowing  any  Indian  Language. 

He  was  afked  if  he  had  not  been  arretted 
in  the  Miamis  Fort}  by  Order  of  M.  de  ViU 

UerS) 


(      »o     ) 

tien y  Commander  of  the  faid  Fort,  and  was 
it  not  with  Intention  to  Trade,  that  he  went 
there  ? 

To  which  he  anfwered,  that  the  Indians 
telling  him  the  French  Were  defirous  to  fee 
him,  was  the  reafon  of  his  going  to  that  Fort  ; 
that  he  was  greatly  furprized  to  fee  himfelf 
arretted  therein  ;  that  he  had  Occafion  to  buy 
in  faid  Fort,  a  Mufket  and  fome  Tobacco, 
and  had  taken  with  him  five  Silk  Caps,  one 
Piece  of  coarfe  Holland,  and  twelve  Silk 
Handkerchiefs,  for  that  Purpofe,  and  that  all 
had  been  feized  by  the  faid  M.  de  Villiers,  as 
alfo  his  Horfe;  that  his  Boots  and  Portman-? 
teau,  wherein  his  Clothes  were,  had  been  left 
in  an  Indian  Cabin,  and  were  to  have  been 
fent  to  him  at  Detroit \  but  he  never  had  any 
Tidings  of  them  fince;  that  another  H orfe 
had  alfo  been  taken  from  him,  whereon  was 
an  Indian  who  was  his  Guide. 

He  v/as  afked  whether  (at  the  Time  he 
had  propofed  to  go  to  the  French  Fort  at 
Miamis)  Prefents  had  not  been  made,  either 
by  him,  or  any  other  Perfon,  to  the  Indiani 
who  are  fettled  on  the  Ohio,  and  Rock-River, 
in  order  to  obtain  their  Affiftance  againft  the 
French >,  in  Cafe  they  fhould  Attack  them  ? 

He  anfwered  entirely  in  the  Negative  to 
every  Thing.contained  in  the  aforefaidQueftion, 

lie; 


(    *I-T    ) 

He  was  ailced,  if  thofe  Goods  which  had 
.been  feizcd  at  *La  Croix,  twenty  Leagues 
from  the  Fort  at  Mi  amis,  were  not  his,  and 
if  they  were  not  the  fame,  which  were  men- 
tioned in  the  verbal  Procefs  of  M.  de  Montigny% 
an  .Officer,  dated  December  the  2d,  1750, 
which  had  been  read  to  him. 

.  To  which  he  anfwered,  that  he  had  left 
h:s  Goods  at  La  Croix,  and  was  fatisfied  that 
thofe  Goods  mentioned  in  the  verbal  Procefs, 
were  the  fame  Sort  as  his,  but  in  much  lefs 
Quantity  ;  that  he  could  not  tell  what  was 
become  of  the  reft  -,  it  might  be,  his  Servants 
had  carried  them  away  when  they  fled. 

He  was  examined  on  the  eighth  Queftion, 
which  was  read  to  him  Word  for  Word. 

To  which  he  anfwered,  that  he  was  not 
at  the  Ohio  in  the  Year  1749,  that  he  was 
told  of  M.  le  Ce/crons  being  there  at  that 
Time,  and  of  what  Orders  he  had  enjoined 
the  Englijh  Traders  ;  that  he  had  alfo  been 
told  of  the  Letter  which  M.  de  Celoron  had 
written  to  the  Governor  of '  Pennfylvania  on 
that  Account,  but  was  informed  he  had  never 
received  it  ;  Crogkan,  the  chief  Interpreter 
aforeiaid,  having  torn  it,  that  the  Governor 
might  not  know  the  Contents  thereof,  left 
he  ihould  order  him  to  act  agreeable  to  it. 

Then 

*  Lm  Croix,  h  the  N^mc  of  a  Pulc  fignifying  in  i 
the  Crofs. 


(     I'M     ) 

Then'  was  read  before  the  faid  Patten,  thd 
whole  Examination,  and  his  Anfwers,  and 
he  was  aiked  if  he  was  inclined  to  add  to,  or 
extenuate  his  Anfwers;  to  which  he  anfwered* 
that  all  he  had  faid  was  true,  and  flood  to  it, 
and  furthermore  faid,  that  the  afore- men- 
tioned Croghan,  the  head  Interpreter,  had  at 
all  Times  perfwaded  the  Indians  to  deftroy 
the  French^  and  had  fo  far  prevailed  on  them, 
by  the  Prefents  he  had  made  them,  that  five 
French  had  been  killed  by  faid  Indians,  ill 
the  Upper-Part  of  the  Country  ;  that  Self-In- 
tereft  was  his  fole  Motive,  in  every  Thing 
he  did,  that  his  Views  were  to  engrofs  the 
whole  Trade,  and  to  fcare  the  French  from 
dealing  with  the  Indians  5  and  as  to  the  Let- 
ters which  M.  de  Celoron  had  written  to  the 
Governor  of  Pennfylvania,  three  of  them  had 
been  intercepted  by  the  faid  Croghan,  left 
the  faid  Governor,  being  acquainted  with  his 
Deeds  J,  mould  forbid  him  ever  to  go  amongft 
them  again. 

Said  Patten  hath  fet  his  Hand  to  every 
Page,  as  alfo  the  Baron  de  Longueil,  M.  Va* 

re??, 

J  This  is  added  tojujiify  the  Governor.  Tom 
have  read  before,  how  he  had  given  Croghan  fomé\ 
Goods  to  the  Value  of  100  Pijloks,  to  be  diJiriA 
buted  among  the  Indians. 


C      "3     ) 

S     ,  the  laid  Maddux  the  Interpreter,  and  our 
retary;      thus,     ftgned    John    Patten, 
D.  J.  Madtox,  La  Jonquiere,  Longusil, 
Varin,  and  Saint  Sauveur,  Secretary, 

NUMB.  VL 
A  Summons  fent  by  Order  of  M.  de  Contri- 
co^ur,  Captain  of  one  of  the  Indépendant  Com- 
paiiies  of  the  Detachment  of  Marines,  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  his  Majefty  s  Troops  at  the 
Ohio,  to  the  Commander  of  thofe  Troops  be- 
longing to  the  King  c/' Great-Britain,  whereof 
M.  le  Mercier  was  Bearer,  the  1 6th  Day 
of  April,   1754. 

NOTHING  can  furprize  rne  more  than 
to  fee  you  thus  attempt  to  fettle  on  the 
Territories  of  the  King  my  Mafter  ;  'tis  that 
which  obliges  me,  this  Day,  to  fend  you  M. 
Le  Mercier  y  Captain  of  the  Cannoneers,  and 
Commander  of  the  Artillery  in  Canada,  .that 
he  may  know,  Sir,  from  your  felf,  by  Virtue 
of  what  Orders  you  are  erecting  Forts  on 
the  Territories  of  the  King  my  Mafter. 
This  Motion  appears  to  me  fo  contrary  to  the 
laft  Treaty  of  Peace,  concluded  at  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  between  his  moft  Chrijiian  Majefty, 
and  his  Majefty  the  King  of  Great-Britain, 

P  that 


(     "4     ) 

that  I  know  flot  to  whom  I  mall  impute  fuch 
Usurpation  ;  fince  thofe  Lands  which  arc 
fituated  along  the  river  Ohio,  beyond  all 
Difpute, belong  to  the  mod  Ckrijlian  King. 

I  am  certainly  informed,  Sir,  that  your 
Schemes  are  contrived  only  by  a  Company 
who  hath  the  Intereil  of  Trade  more  in  View, 
than  tô  maintain  the  Union  and  Harmony 
exiiling  between  the  Crowns  of  Great-Britain 
and  France  -,  though,  Sir,  the  Maintainance 
thereof,  may  ,/be  as  advantageous  to  your 
Nation  as  to  ours. 

However,  Sir,  if  you  are  come  veiled  with 
any  Orders  to  this  Place,  I  Summons  you 
from  the  King  my  Mailer,  by  Virtue  of  the 
Orders  which  I  have  from  my  General, 
peaceably  to  withdraw  yourfelf,  and  your 
Troops,  irom  the  Kings  Territories,  if  not, 
I  ihall  be  under  a  Neceffity,  for  the  Perfor- 
mance of  my  Duty,  to  oblige  you  thereto. 
I  hope,  Sir,  you  will  not  prolong  the  Time, 
and  thereby  force  me  to  Extremes  ;  You  may, 
Sir,  in  that  Caie,  be  fully  perfwaded,  I  ihall 
give  fuch  Orders  to  my  Detachment,  that 
you  iliall  receive  no  Damage  thereby. 

Sir,  I  give  you  Notice  now,  that  it  will  be 
to  no  Purpofe  to  demand  one  Hour's  Delay, 
or  to  expect  I  iliall  confent  to  your  Stay, 
until  you  receive  Orders  from  your  Governor, 

for 


(     1*5     ) 

for  none  he  can  give  upon  the  Lands  of  the 
Kino-  my  Mailer.  The  Orders  I  have  re- 
ceived from  my  General,  are  a  Law  to  me, 
therefore,  Sir,  I  cannot  go  from  them. 

But  if,  on  the  Contrary,  you  have  no  Or- 
ders, if  you  are  only  come  here  to  trade  ;  I 
am  forry  to  inform  you,  that  I  am  obliged  to 
feize  your  Perfon,  and  to  confifcate  your 
Efrccls  to  the  Ufe  of  the  Indians,  who  are 
our  Children,  our  Allies,  and  our  Friends, 
as  you  arc  not  permitted  to  follow  any  illicit 
Trade. 

It  was  for  that  very  reafon,  Sir,  that  two 
Eng/iJJjmen  were  by  us  arretted  laft  Year,  for 
trading  on  our  Lands.  Furthermore,  the 
King,  my  Mafter,  demands  only  what  is  his 
right;  his  Intentions  are  not  to  interrupt  that 
goed  Harmony  and  Friendihip  fubfifting  be- 
tween his  Majefty  and  the  King  of  Great- 
Britain. 

The  General  of  Canada  can  give  Proofs  in 
what  Manner  he  concurrerh  to  keep  up  the 
Union  exifting  between  the  two  Princes  ;  for, 
having  been  informed,  that  fome  Indians  of 
the  Six  Nations,  in  Company  with  fomc 
Ncpijjmgues,  from  the  Lake  of  the  two  Moun- 
tains, had  fallen  upon,  and  deilroyed \s  an 
Englijh  Family  towards  Carolina,  he  flopped 
their  PafTage,  and  obliged  them  to  deliver 
P  2  him 


(     "6     ) 

him  up  a  little  Boy  belonging  to  that  Family, 
and  who  was  the  only  one  left  alive  ;  he  was 
brought  back  to  Bojion,  by  Mr.  Ulerich,  who 
was  then  upon  feme  Négociation  at  Montreal. 

Moreover,  he  has  ftriâiy  forbidden  all 
Indians  to  exercife  their  ufual  Cruelties  on 
thofe  Englifô  who  are  our  Friends.  I  could 
complain,  Sir,  of  the  many  Solicitations  you 
have  made  laft  Year  to  the  Indians,  to  take 
up  the  Hatchet  againft  us,  whilft  we  were 
bufy  in  maintaining  Peace. 

Sir,  I  am  perfwaded  you  will  receive  M. 
le  Merrier,  m  a  polite  Manner,  on  Account 
of  his  Commiffion,  as  alfo  of  his  Diftindtion 
and  perfonal  Merit;  and  I  expeel:  you  will 
fend  him  back  to  me  writh  one  of  your  Offi- 
cers, who  will  bring  me  an  exaci:  Anfwer 
figned  by  yourfelf.  As  you  have  Indians  with 
you,  I  fend  an  Interpreter  with  M.  le  Mercier^ 
that  he  may  acquaint  them  with  my  Inten- 
tions on  their  Account. 

lam,  &c. 

Signed,     Contre  coeur* 

Done  at  our  Camp,  the  1 6th  of  April,  1754c 

NUMB.    VII. 


f 


{  m  ) 

NUMB.    VIL 

A  Copv  of  thoje  Orders  which  M.  de  Con- 
trecoeur gave  M.  de  Jumon ville,  the  23^ 
ç/" May,  "1754. 

BE  it  Known,  that  the  Captain  of  a  Com- 
pany belonging  to  the  Detachment  of 
Marines,  Commander  in  Chief  at  the  Ohio> 
Fort  Du  Quefne,  the  Peninfula  and  River- 
Beef,  hath  given  Orders  to  Mr.  de  Jumon- 
ville,  an  Enfign  of  the  Troops,  to  depart 
immediately  with  one  Officer,  three  Cadets, 
one  Voluntier,  one  E?2glijh  Interpreter,  and 
twenty  eight  Men,  to  go  up  as  far  as  the 
High-Lands,  and  to  make  what  Difcovery  he 
can  ;  he  fhall  keep  along  the  River  Monaun- 
gahela,  in  Pettiaguas  as  far  as  the  Hangard  ; 
after  which  he  fhall  march  along,  until  he 
finds  the  road  which  leads  to  that  faid  to 
have  been  cleared  by  the  EngHJh.  As  the 
Indians  give  out  that  the  Englifo  are  in  their 
march  to  attack  us  (which  we  cannot  believe, 
fince  we  are  at  Peace)  fhould  M.  de  fumon- 
ville,  contrary  to  our  Expectation,  hear  of 
any  Attempt  intended  to  be  made  by  the 
Englijh,  on  the  Lands  belonging  to  the  French 
King,  he  fhall  immediately  go  to  them,  and 
deliver  them  the  Summons  we  have   given 

hinv 

We 


(     "8     ) 

Wc  further  charge  him,  to  diipatch  a 
ipeedy  Meffengcr  to  us,  before  the  Summons 
be  read,  to  acquaint  us  of  all  the  Difcoveries 
he  hath  made  -,  of  the  Day  he  intends  to  read 
them  the  Summons  ,  and  alfo  to  bring  us  an 
Anfwcr  from  therewith  all  poffible  Diligence, 
after  it  is  read. 

If  Mr.  de  jfumonville  fhould  hear  that  the 
EngliJJj  intend  to  go  on  the  other  Side  of  the 
Great-Mountain%,  he  {hall  not  pafs  the  High* 
hands,  for  we  would  not  difturb  them  in  the 
ieaft,  being  defirous  to  keep  up  that  Union 
whicn  exifts  between  the  two  Crowns. 

We  charge  Mr.  de  *Jiimonville  to  ftand 
upon  his  Guard  againft  every  Attempt,  either 
from  the  Englijh  or  Indians,  If  he  fhould 
meet  any  Indians,  he  fhail  tell  them  he  is 
travelling  about  to  fee  what  is  tranfadting  on 
the  King's  Territories,  and  to  take  Notice  of 
every  road,  and  fhali  ihew  them  Friendfhip. 
Done  at  the  Camp  at  Fort  Du  Quefne,  the 
2jd  of  May,   1754- 

Signed,     Contrecoeur* 

J  The  Apalachian  Mountains, 


(  m  ) 

A  Copt  bJ  the  Summons  whereof  Mr.  de  Ju- 
monville  was  the  Bearer. 

A  Summons  which  Mr.   de  Ju  mon  ville  y£<*// 
read.     From  an  Officer  of  the  Troops  oj  the 
mofi  Chriftian  King,    to  the  Commander  of 
the  Englifli  Troops,  if  any  he  Jkouldjind  on 
the  Territories  of  the  French  King. 

Sir, 

THE  Indians  have  already  acquainted  me, 
you  were  coming  armed,  on  the  Ter- 
ritories of  the  King  my  Matter,  though  I 
cannot  believe  it  ;  but  as  it  is  my  Duty  to 
leave  no  Stone  unturned  to  difcover  exactly 
the  Truth  thereof,  I  have  fent  out  Mr.  de 
fumonville  on  that  Account;  and  in  Cafe  he 
lhould  fee  you,  to  Summons  you  in  the 
King's  Name,  and  by  Virtue  of  the  Orders 
which  I  have  received  from  my  General,  to 
depart  forthwith  in  Peace  with  your  Troops; 
if  you  refufe,  you  will  oblige  me,  Sir,  to 
force  you  thereto,  by  ufing  the  mod  powerful 
Means,  for  the  Honour  of  the  King's  Arms  : 
Your  buying  thofe  Lands  at  the  Ohio,  from 
the  Indians,  gives  you  fo  weak  a  right  thereto, 
that  I  fhall  be  obliged  to  repel  Force  by  Force. 
I  forewarn  you,  that  if,  after  this  Summons, 
which  fhall   be  the  laft,  there  be  any  Aft  of 

Hoftility, 


(      «o      ) 

Hoftility,  you  (hall  Anfwer  for  it  ;  as  it  is  our 
Intention  to  keep  up  the  Union  exifting  be** 
tween  the  two  Crowns.  Whatever  your 
Schemes  may  be,  I  hope,  Sir,  you  will  (hew 
Mr.  Jumonville  all  the  refpect  that  Officer 
deferves,  and  that  you  will  lend  him  back  to 
me  again  with  all  Speed,  to  acquaint  me  with 
your  Intentions. 

/  am,    &c. 
Signed,     Contrecoeur. 

Done  at  the  Camp,   at  Fort  du  Quefne, 
the  2%d  of  May,    1754. 

A  Letter  fent  to  the  Marquis  du  Quefne, 
by  M.  de  Contrecoeur,  dated  June  2 d>  1754* 

Sir, 

SINCE  the  Letter  I  had  the  Honour  to 
write  you,  dated  the  30th  of  laft  Month, 
whereby  I  acquainted  your  Honour,  that  I 
expected  Mr.  de  Jumonvi/le  within  four  Days  ; 
the  Indians  have  juft  now  informed  me,  that 
that  Party  is  taken  and  defeated  ;  they  were 
eight  in  Number,  one  whereof  was  Mr.  de  \ 
yumonville.  One  of  that  Party,  Monceau  by 
Name,  a  Canadian,  made  his  Efcape,  and 
tells  us  they  had  built  themfelves  Cabins,  in  %  \ 
low  Bottom,  where  they  flieltered  themfelves* 

as! 


(   m   ) 

as  rt  rained  hard.     About  fcven  o'clock  the 
next    Morning,     they    faw    themfelves    fur- 
rounded    by    the   Englijh  on    one   Side,    and 
Indians    on    the    other.     The    Englif/j   gave 
them   two  Volleys,  but    the   Indians  did  not 
fire.     Mr.  de  JumonviUe^  by  his  Interpreter, 
told  them  to  defift,  that  he  had  fomcthing  to 
tell  them.     Upon  which   they  ceafed  firing. 
Then  Mr.  de  jfumonville  ordered  the  Sum- 
mons which  I  had  fent  them  to  retire,  to  be 
read  ;    a  Copy   of  which,  I   here  fend  your 
Honour.     The   aforefaid    Monceau,    faw    all 
our  Frenchmen   coming  up  clofc   to   Mr.   de 
Jumonvi/Ie,    whilft    they    were    reading   the 
Summons,  fo  that  they  were  all  in  Plattoons-, 
between  the  Englijh  and  the  Indians,  during 
which  Time  faid  Monceau   made  the  beft  of 
his  Way  to  us,  partly  by  Land  through  the 
Woods,  and  partly  along  the  river  Monaun- 
gahela  in  a  fmall  Canoe. 

This  is  all,  Sir,  I  could  learn  from  faid 
Monceau,  The  Misfortune  is,  that  our  Peo- 
ple were  furprafed  ;  the  EngliJJj  had  incircled 
tkem,  and  came  upon  them  unfeem 

I  have  this  Moment,  Sir,  received  a  Let- 
ter from  M.  de  la  Cbauvignerie,  which  you 
have  here  inciofed,  where  you  will  fee,  that 
we  have  certainly  loft  eight  Men,  one  of 
whom  is  Mr.  de  Jumonville. 

Q  Thé 


(       122       ) 

The  Indians  who  were  prefent  when  the 
Thing  was  done,  fay,  that  Mr.  de  Jumon- 
ville  was  killed  by  a  Mufket-Shot  in  the  Head, 
whilft  they  were  reading  the  Summons,and  that 
the  Englijh  would  have  alterwards  killed  all  our 
Men,  had  not  the  Indians,  who  were  prefent, 
by  rufhing  in  between  them  and  the  Englijh, 
prevented  their  Defign.  MefTrs.  Drouillon 
and  la  Force  are  taken  Prifoners.  We  cannot 
tell,  if  Meflrs.  de  Boucerville  and  du  Sable, 
both  Cadets,  are  in  the  Number  of  the  eight 
who  are  killed.  This  is  the  Account  which 
the  Indians  have  given  us. 

I  believe,  Sir,  it  will  furprife  you  to  hear 
how  bafely  the  Englijh  have  acted  ;  it  is 
what  was  never  feen,  even  amongft  Nations 
who  are  the  leaft  civilized,  to  fall  thus  upon 
EmbafTadors  and  murder  them.  The  Indians 
are  fo  inraged  thereat,  that  they  have  applied 
to  me  for  Liberty  to  fall  upon  the  Englijh. 
I  had  fent  Goyogwin,  an  Indian  Chief,  to  hold 
a  Council  at  his  Village,  on  the  Action  afore- 
faidj  but  he  is  returned,  and  is  now  con- 
ftantly  with  me. 

The  Englijh  are,no  Doubt,  on  their  March, 
with    an    Army    of    Five    Thoufand  ftrong. 
The  Indians  fay,  they  have  always  Six  Hun-; 
dred  Men  going  before,  in  order  to  clear  a 
Broad-road,  to  bring  up  ftrong  Cannon  -,  this; 

was  : 


(     **3     ) 

was  the  Indian  Expreffion.  As  I  am  certain 
the  Englijh  are  on  their  March,  I  wrote  to 
M.  Péan  to  come  to  us  with  all  Diligence 
w;th  the  Provifions,  and  to  fend  us  Three 
Hundred  Men,  either  by  Land  or  by  Water. 
I  alio  wrote  to  M.  de  Carqueville,  that,  if 
M.  Péan  was  not  at  Tiadakouin,  he  fhould 
come  with  the  fame  Number  of  Men,  as  I 
wrote  to  M.  Péan  for. 

If  the  Difcovery  which  has  cofl:  our  People 
fo  dear,  had  not  been  made,  the  Englijh 
would  have  come  upon  us  unawares  ;  but 
now  we  fhall  be  vigilant  on  all  Accounts. 
We  are  told  that  the  Main-Body  of  the  Army 
is  yet  far  diftant,  that  it  will  be  one  Moon  at 
leaft  before  they  reach  this  Place.  Tis  faid 
they  are  reinforcing  Tanarijfin,  up  the  river 
Monawigahela.  This  Advice  we  have  from 
the  Indians.,  who  alfo  fay,  that  the  Englifi 
have  with  them  ten  Chickafaws,  and  thirty 
Flat-Heads,  of  the  neareft  to  them,  and  one 
Hundred  Men  of  the  Dog  Nation;  which 
puts  them  in  high  Spirits,  as  they  are  all 
Enemies  to  the  Indians  who  are  on  this 
river. 

Tis  faid  the  Englijh  intend  to  build  a  Fort 

half  a   League  above  us,  and   another  a  little 

more  than  half  a  League  below  us,  which 

Q  e  is 


(     1*4     ) 

is  at  the  Littk-Rocky  befides  another  at  foroe 
frnall  Diflance  along  the  river  Monaungahela, 
on  the  fame  Side  that  we  are. 

I  mail  acquaint  your  Honour,  at  every  Op- 
portunity,  of  every  Thing  that  is  done,  &c. 

NUMB.    VIII. 

The  Journal  of  Major  Washington . 

ON  the  31ft  of  March,  I  received  from 
his  Honour*,  a  Lieutenant  Colonel's 
Commiffion,  of  the  Virginia  Regiment, 
whereof  Jojhua  Fry,  Efquire,  was  Colonel, 
dated  the  15th;  with  Orders  to  take  the 
Troops,  which  were  at  that  Time  quartered 
at  Alexandria,  under  my  Command,  and  to 
march  with  them  towards  the  Ohio,  there  to 
help  Captain  Trent  to  build  Forts,  and  to 
defend  the  PorTeffions  of  his  Majefty  againfï 
the  Attempts  and  Hoftilities  of  the  French. 

April  the  2d,  Every  Thing  being  ready» 
wc  began  our  march  according  to  our  Or- 
ders, the  2d  of  April,-  with  two  Companies 
of  Foot,  commanded  by  Captain  Peter  Hog, 
and  Lieutenant  Jacob  Vambraam,  five  Su- 
balterns,   two    Serjeants,    ûx  Corporals,  one 

Drummer, 

*  G&uemor.Dinypiddic,  ^Virginia, 


(  t»5)  ) 

Drummer,  and  one  Hundred  and  twenty 
Soldiers,  one  Surgeon,  one  Swidijh  Gentle- 
man, who  was  a  Volunteer,  two  Waggons, 
guarded  by  one  Lieutenant,  Serjeant,  Cor- 
poral, and  Twenty-five  Soldiers. 

We  left  Alexandria  on  Tuefday  Noon,  and 
pitched  our  Tents  about  four  Miles  from 
Cameron,  having  travelled  fix  Miles. 

(From  the  3d  of  April,  to  the  19th  of 
faid  Month,  this  Journal  only  contains  the 
March  of  the  Troops,  and  how  they  were 
joined  by  a  Detachment  which  was  brought 
by  Captain  Stephens.) 

The  19th,  Met  an  Exprefs  who  had  Let- 
ters from  Captain  Trent,  at  the  Ohio,  de- 
manding a  Reinforcement  with  all  Speed,  as 
he  hourly  expected  a  Body  of  Eight  Hundred 
French.  I  tarried  at  "Job  Pear/all's  for  the 
Arrival  of  the  Troops,  where  they  came  the 
next  Day.  When  I  received  the  above  Ex- 
prefs, I  difpatched  a  Courier  to  Colonel 
Fry,  to  give  him  Notice  of  it. 

The  20th,  Came  down  to  Colonel  Crefap, 
to  Order  the  Detachment,  and  on  my  Rout, 
had  Notice  that  the  Fort  was  taken  by  the 
French.  That  News  was  confirmed  by 
Mr,*  Wart,  the  Enfign  of  Captain  Trent,  who 
had  been  obliged  to  Surrender  to  a  Body  of 

One 


(       126      ) 

One  Thoufand  French  and  upwards,  under 
the  Command  of  Captain  Contrecoeur^  who 
was  come  from  Venango  (in  French »,  the  Pe- 
ninfula)  with  Sixty  Battoes,  and  Three  Hun- 
dred Canoes,  and  who  having  planted 
eighteen  Pieces  of  Cannon  againft  the  Fort, 
afterwards  had  fent  him  a  Summons  to 
depart. 

Mr.  Wart  alfo  informed  me,  that  the  In- 
dians kept  ftedfaftly  attached  to  our  Intereft. 
He  brought  two  young  Indian  Men  with 
him,  who  were  Mingoesy  that  they  might 
have  the  Satisfaction  to  fee,  that  we  were 
marching  with  our  Troops  to  their  Succour. 

He  alio  delivered  me  the  following  Speech^ 
which  the  Half-Ki?ig  fent  to  me*. 

Fort-Ohio,  April  iStb,   1754. 

A  Speech  from  the  Half-King,  for  the  Go- 
vernors of  Virginia   and  Pennfylvania. 

MY  Brethren    the   Englijl:y    the    Bearer 
will  let  you  underftand  in  what  Man- 
ner the  French  have  treated  us.     We  waited 

:S 

*  This  Half-King  was  an  Indian  Chief  ta 
whom  the  Englifh  had  given  that  Title \  and  had., 
fet  him  on  exceedingly  againjt  the  French, 


(     I27    ) 

a  long  Time,  thinking  they  would  come 
and  a  ttack  us  ;  we  now  fee  how  they  have 
a  Mind  to  ufe  us§. 

We    are  now  ready   to   fall    upon   them, 

waiting  only  for  your   Succour.     Have  good 

Courage,  and  come  as  foon  as  poffible  ;  you 

will  find  us  as  ready  to  encounter  with  them  as 

you  are  yourfehes. 

We  have  fent  thofe  two  young  Men  to  fee 
if  you  are  ready  to  come,  and  if  fo,  they  are 
to  return  to  us,  to  let  us  know  where  ycu 
are,  that  we  may  come  and  join  you.  We 
fhould  be  glad,  if  the  Troops  belonging  to 
the  two  Provinces  could  meet  together  at  the 
Fort  which  is  in  the  Way.  If  you  do  not 
come  to  our  Affiftance  now,  we  are  intirely 
undone,  and  imagine  we  fhali  never  meet 
together  again.  I  fpeak  it  with  a  Heart  full 
of  Grief. 

A  Belt  of  Wampum. 

The  Half-King  directed  to  me  the  fol- 
lowing  Speech.     I    am   ready,   if  you   think 

it 

§  Behold  here  is  a  Confefjicn  of  that  Goodnefs> 
with  which  the  French  had  treated  the  Indians 
which  had  revolted.  Thofe  Indians  expelled  to 
he  pur/ued-,  fur  prized  at  the  Indulgence  of  the 
French,  they  propofe  to  attack  them  themfehes, 
and  acquaint  the  Englifh  of  their  Refolution* 


(        128       ) 

it  proper,  to  go  to  both  the  Governors,  with 
thefc  two  young  Men>  for  I  have  now  no 
more  Dépendance  on  thofe  who  have  been 
gone  fo  long,  without  returning  or  fending 
any  Meflage. 

A  Belt  of  Wampum. 

April  23d.  A  Council  of  War  held  at 
Wills-Creek,  in  order  to  confult  upon  what 
muft  be  done  on  Account  of  the  News 
brought  by  Mr.  Wart. 

The  News  brought  by  Enfign  Wart,  having 
been  examined  into,  as  alfo  the  Summons 
fent  by  Captain  Contrecoeur,  Commander  of 
the  French  Troops,  and  the  Speeches  of  the 
Half-King,  and  of  the  other  Chiefs  of  the 
Six  Nations  -,  it  appears,  that  Mr.  Wart  was 
forced  to  Surrender  the  faid  Fort,  the  17th 
of  this  Inftant,  to  the  French,  who  were 
above  One  Thoufand  ftrong,  and  had  eighteen 
Artillery  Pieces,  fome  oi:  which  were  nine 
Pounders*,  and  alfo  that  the  Detachment  of 
the  Virginia  regiment,  amounting  to  One 
Hundred   and  Fifty    Men,    commanded    by 

Colonel 

*  Captain  Trent,  and  "Enfign  Wart  had 
greatly  exagerated  the  French  Forces.  Which 
is  common  'enough  for  People  to  do}  who  abandon 
their  Fort  at  a  bare  Summons, 


(     I29     ) 

Colonel  Wafiington  had  Orders  to  reinforce 
the  Company  of  Captain  Trent,  and  that  the 
arbrefaid  Garrifon  confided  only  of  Thirty- 
three  effedive  Men. 

It  was  thought  a  Thing  impra&icable  to 
march  towards  the  Fort  without  fufficient 
Strength  ;  however,  being  ftrongly  invited  by 
the  Indians,  and  particularly  by  the  Speeches 
of  the  Half-King,  the  Prefident  gave  his 
Opinion,  that  it  would  be  proper  to  advance 
as  far  as  Red-Stone -Creek,  on  Monaungahela, 
about  Thirty-feven  Miles  on  this  Side  of  the 
Fort,  and  there  to  raife  a  Fortification,  clear- 
ing a  Road  broad  enough  to  pafs  with  all  our 
Artillery  and  our  Baggage,  and  there  to  wait 
for  frefh  Orders. 

The  Opinion  aforefaid  was  refolved  upon, 
for  the  following  Reafons  -, 

ift,  That  the  Mouth  of  Red-Stone  is.  the 
firft  convenient  Place  on  the  river  Monaun- 
gahela. 

2d,  That  Stores  are  already  built  at  that 
Place  for  the  Provifions  of  the  Company, 
wherein  our  Ammunition  may  be  laid  up  ; 
our  great  Guns  may  be  alfo  fent  by  Water 
whenever  we  mould  think  it  convenient  to 
attack  the  Fort. 

id,  We  may  eafiiy  (having  all  thefe  Con- 
veniences) preferve  our  People  from  the  ill 
R  Confequences 


(     *3°     ) 

Confequences  of  Inaction,  and  encourage  the 
Indians  our  Allies,  to  remain  in  our  Interefts. 
Whereupon,  I  fent  Mr.  Wart  to  the  Gover- 
nor*, with  one  of  the  young  Indians  and  an 
Interpreter  :  I  thought  it  proper  alfo  to  ac- 
quaint the  Governors  of  Maryland  and  Penn- 
jylvarda  of  the  News  ;  and  I  fent  away  the 
other  Indian  to  the  Half-King^  with  the 
Speeches  inclofed  in  the  following  Letter. 

To   the  Honourable  Robert   Dinwiddie,   Rfq; 
Governor y  &c.  &c* 

Sir, 

MR.  Warty  an  Enfign  of  Captain  Trent's 
Company,  is  this  Day  come  from 
-Monaungahela,  and  has  brought  the  fofrow- 
ful  News  of  the  reduction  of  the  Fort,  on 
the  17th  of  this  Inftant;  having  been  fum- 
,  moned  by  Captain  Contrecoeur  to  furrender 
to  a  Body  of  French  Troops  who  were  a 
Thoufand  ftrong,  who  came  from  Wenango^ 
with  eighteen  Pieces  of  Cannon,  fixty  Battoes, 
and  Three  Hundred  Canoes  ;  they  permitted 
all  our  Men  to  retire,  and  take  with  them 
their  Working-Tools  out  of  the  Fort,  which 
was  done  the  fame  Day. 

Upon 

t  The  Governor  of  Virginia  is  here  underjlood. 


(      *3T      ) 

Upon  receiving  this  News,  I  called  % 
Council  of  War,  in  order  to  coniult  what  v, 
the  beft  to  be  done  in  fuch  Circumflanc. 
and  have  fent  you  a  particular  Account  of 
every  Thing  agreed  upon  at  the  faid  Council 
by  the  fame  Exprefs,  that  you  may  know 
Things  yet  more  particularly. 

Mr.  Wart  is  the  Bearer  of  the  Summons, 
as  alfo  of  the  Speech   from  the   Half-King, 
wherein   I  inclofed   the  Wampum  ;  he  is  in 
Company    with    one  of  thofe    Indians  men- 
tioned  in   the  Speech,  who  had  been  fent  to 
fee  our  Forces,  and  to  know  what  Time  they 
might  expect  us;  the   other   Indian,  I  have 
fent  back  with  a  Meffage.     I  hope  you  will 
find  it  neceffary  to  fend  us  our  Forces  as  foon 
as  they  are  railed,  as  alfo  a  fufficient  Number 
of  Canoes,    and   other    Boats    with    Decks  ; 
fend  us  alfo  fome  Mortar-Pieces,  that  we  may 
be  in  a  Condition  to  attack  the  French  with 
equal  Forces.     And  as  we  are  informed  that 
the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  the  Ou- 
tavvas,  are  coming  down  Sciodo-Creek,  in  or- 
der to  join  the  French  who  are  to   meet  at 
the  Ohio-,  fo  I  think  it  would  not  be  amifs  to 
invite  the  Cherokees,  Catawfras,  and  the  Chic- 
kafaws  to  come  to  our  Amilance  ;  and  as  I 
have  received  Intelligence,  that  there    is 
good   Underftanding   between  them  and  the 
Pv   2  The 


(    Rgp    ) 

Vidians  of  the  Six-Nations  aforefaid,  it  would 
be  well  to  pcrfwade  them  to  make  a  Peace 
with  them  ;  otherwife  if  they  fhould  meet  at 
the  Ohio,  it  might  caufe  great  Diforder,  and 
turn  out  to  our  Difadvantage. 

We  find  the  great  Advantage  there  is  in 
Water-Carriage,  wherefore,  I  would  remind 
you  to  provide  a  Number  of  Boats  for  that 
Purpofe. 

This  Day,  arrived  the  Men  belonging  to 
Captain  Trent,  who  by  your  Orders  had  been 
inlifted  as  Militia-Troops  ;  the  Officers  having 
imprudently  promifed  them  Two  Shillings  per 
Day,  they  now  refufe  to  ferve  for  lefs  Pay  $ 
Wart  mail  receive  your  Orders  on  that  Head. 

To   his  Excellency  Horatio    Sharpe,  Governor 
of  Maryland. 

S   I  R, 

I  AM  here  arrived  with  a  Detachment  of 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Men  :  We 
daily  expect  Colonel  Fry  with  the  remaining 
Part  of  the  Regiment  and  the  Artillery  -, 
however,  we  fhall  march  gently  a-crofs  the 
Mountains,  clearing  the  Roads   as  we  go*, 

that 

*  How  can  the  Englifli  fay  that  Country  was 
theirs?  They  had  not  one  Road  leading  to  it 
from  their  Colonies, 


(     *33     ) 

that  our  Cannon  may  with  the  greater  Eafe 
be  fent  after  us  ;  we  propofe  to  go  as  far  as 
Red-Stone  River,  which  falls  into  Monaun- 
gahe/a,  about  Thirty-feven  Miles  this  Side 
of.  the  Fort  which  the  French  have  taken, 
from  thence  all  our  heavy  Luggage  may  be 
carried  as  far  as  the  Ohio.  A  Store  is  built 
there  by  the  Ohio  Company,  wherein  may 
be  placed  our  Ammunition  and  Provisions. 

Befides  the  French  Forces  above  mentioned, 
we  have  Reafon  to  believe,  according  to  the 
Accounts  we  have  heard,  that  another  Party 
is  coming  to  the  Ohio;  we  have  alio  learnt 
that  Six  Hundred  of  the  Chippowais  and  Olio- 
wais  Indians,  are  coming  down  the  River 
Sciodo,  in  order  to  join  them. 

The  following  is  my  Anfwer  to  the  Speech 
of  the  Half -King  ; 

"  To  the  Half -King,  and  to  the  Chiefs  and 
Warriors  of  the  Shawa?iefe  and  Loups  our 
Friends  and  Brethren.  I  received  your  Speech 
by  Brother  Bucks,  who  came  to  us  with  the 
two  young  Men  fix  Days  after  their  Depar- 
ture from  you.  We  return  you  our  greatefl 
Thanks,  and  our  Hearts  are  fired  with  Love 
and  Affection  towards  you,  in  Gratitude  for 
your  confiant  Attachment  to  us,  as  alfo  your 
gracious  Speech,  and  your  wife  Counfels. 

This 


,  (     134     ))     , 

This  young  Man  will  inform  you,  where 
he  found  a  fmall  Part  of  our  Army,  making 
towards  you,  clearing  the  Roads  for  a  great 
Number  of  our  Warriors,  who  are  ready  to 
follow  us,  with  our  great  Guns,  our  Am- 
munition and  Provifions.  As  I  delight  in 
letting  you  know  with  fpeed  the  Thoughts  of 
our  Heart,  I  fend  you  back  this  young  Man, 
with  this  Speech  to  acquaint  you  therewith, 
and  the  other  young  Man  I  have  fent  to  the 
Governor  of  Virgi?iia>  to  deliver  him  your 
Speech  and  your  Wampum,  and  to  be  an 
Eye-witnefs  of  thofe  Preparations  we  are 
making,  to  come  in  all  Hafte  to  the  Affiftance 
of  thofe  whofe  Intereft  is  as  dear  to  us  as  our 
Lives.  We  know  the  Character  of  the  trea- 
cherous French,  and  our  Conduct  fhall  plainly 
(hew  you,  how  much  we  have  it  at  Heart. 
I  fhall  not  be  fatisfied  if  I  do  net  fee  you  before 
all  our  Forces  are  met  together  at  the  Fort 
which  is  in  the  Way;  wherefore,  I  délire, 
with  the  greateft  Earneftnefs,  that  you,  or  at 
leaft  one  of  you,  would  come  as  foon  as 
poffible  to  meet  us  on  the  road,  and  to  affift 
us  in  Council.  I  prefent  you  with  thefe 
Bunches  of  Wampum,  to  allure  you  of  the 
Sincerity  of  my  Speech,  and  that  you  may 

remember 


(     *35     ) 

remember  how  much  I  am  your  Friend  and 
Brother." 

Signed,     Washington, 
or  ConotocariousJ. 

April  28.  Came  to  us  fome  Pieces  of 
Cannon,  which  were  taken  up  to  the  Mouth 
of  Patterfon%  River. 

(From  the  29th  of  April y  to  the  nth  of 
May,  the  Journal  only  contains  Marches,  and 
Things  of  little   Confequence.) 

May  the  nth,  Detached  a  Party  of 
Twenty-five  Men,  commanded  by  Captain 
Stephens  and  Enfign  Peronie,  with  Orders  to 
go  to  Mr.  Giji\,  to  enquire  where  La  Force\\y 
and  his  Party  were  ;  and  in  cafe  they  were  in 
the  Neighbourhood,  to  ceafe  purfuing  and  to 
take  care  of  themfelves.  I  alio  ordered  them 
to  examine  clofely  all  the  Woods  round  about, 
and  if  they  fhould  find  any  Frenchman  apart 
from  the  reft,  to  feize  him  and  bring  him 

to 


This  was  without  Doubt  an  Indian  Name  that  Major 
Washington  had  take:,,  to  pieafe  thofe  Indians  which  he  wanted 
to  delude. 

||  Mr.  de  la  Force  w.-s  one  of  the  Frenchmen  who  accom- 
panied Mr.  de  Jurnonvilky  and  about  the  Beginning  of  Mayy 
was  lent  out  with  three  other  Frenchmen  and  fome  Indians, 
after  Deierters,  and  M-ijor  tt'tf.ir.gLn  had  Knowledge  of 
this  from  the  Indians. 


(     136     ) 

to  us,  that  we  might  learn  what  wc  could 
from  him  :  We  were  exceedingly  defirous 
to  know,  if  there  was  any  Poftibility  of  fend- 
ing down  any  Thing  by  Water,  as  alfo  to 
find  out  fome  convenient  Place  about  the 
Mouth  of  Red-Stone-Creek,  where  we  could 
build  a  Fort,  it  being  my  Defign  to  falute 
the  Half-King,  and  to  fend  him  back  under 
a  fmall  Guard  ;  we  were  alfo  defirous  to  en- 
quire what  were  the  Views  of  the  French, 
what  they  had  done,  and  what  they  intended 
to  do-f-,  and  to  collect  every  Thing,  which 
could  give  us  the  leaft  Intelligence. 

The  1 2th,  Marched  away,  and  went  on 
a  riling  Ground,  where  we  halted  to  dry  our- 
felves,  for  we  had  been  obliged  to  ford  a 
deep  river,  where  our  fhorteft  Men  had 
Water  up  to  their  Arm-pits. 

There  came  an  Exprefs  to  us  with  Letters 
acquainting  us,  that  Colonel  Fry  with  a 
Detachment  of  One  Hundred  Men  and  up- 
wards, was  at  Winchefier,  and  was  to  fet  out 
in  a  few  Days  to  join  us  ;  as  alfo  that  Colonel 

In/iis 

•f-  If  the  Englifh  were  ignorant  of  the 
Defigns  of  the  French  at  that  Time  ;  it  cannot 
then  befaid,  that  their  Hojlilities  had  occafoned 
the  Orders  which  Major  Washington  had  to 
attack  them. 


(  '37  ) 

Innis  was  marching  with  Three  Hundred 
and  Fifty  Men,  raifed  in  Carolina  ;  that  it 
was  expected  Maryla?td  would  raife  Two 
Hundred  Men,  and  that  Pennjylvania  had 
railed  Ten  Thoufand  Pounds  (equal  to  about 
Fifty-two  Thoufand  Five  Hundred  Livres) 
to  pay  the  Soldiers  raifed  in  other  Colonies, 
as  that  Province  furnifheth  no  recruits,  as 
alfo  that  Governor  Shirley  had  fent  Six  Hun- 
dred Men  to  harrafs  the  French  in  Canada\\  ; 
I  hope  that  will  give  them  fome  Work  to  do, 
and  will  flacken  their  feiVding  fo  many  Men 
to  the  Ohio  as  they  have  done. 

The  1 6th,  Met  two  Traders,  who  told 
us  they  fled  for  fear  of  the  French ,  as  Parties 
of  them  were  often  ken  towards  Mr.  Gift's. 
Thefe  Traders  are  of  Opinion,  as  well  as 
many  others,  that  it  is  not  poffible  to  clear 
a  road  for  any  Carriage  to  go  from  hence  to 
Red-Stone-Creek. 

The  17th,  This  Night  Mr.  Wart  arrived 
with  the  young  Indian  from  Williamjburg, 
and  delivered  me  a  Letter,  wherein  the  Go- 
vernor is  fo  good  as  to  approve  of  my  Pro- 
ceedings, but    is  much  difpleafed  with  Cap- 

S  tain 

||  The  Englifh  are  feen  to  attack  every 
Where. 


(     '3»     J) 

tain  T;r;^,  and  hag  ordered  him  to  be  tried» 
for  leaving  his  Men  at  the  Ohio  :  The  Gover- 
nor alfo  informs  me  that  Captain  Mackay, 
with  an  Indépendant  Company  of  One  Hun- 
dred Men,  excluding  the  Officers,  was  ar- 
rived, and  that  we  might  expect  them  daily  ; 
and  that  the  Men  from  New-Tcrk  would  join 
us  within  ten  Days. 

This  Night  alfo  came  two  Indians  from 
the  Ohio,  who  left  the  French  Fort  five  Days 
ago  :  They  relate  that  the  French  Forces  are 
all  employed  in  building  their  Fort,  that  it  is 
already  Breafc-high,  and  the  Thicknefs  of 
twelve  Feet,  and  filled  up  with  Earth  and 
Stone,  &c.  They  have  cut  down  and  burnt 
up  all  the  Trees  which  were  about  it,  and 
fown  Grain  inftead  thereof.  The  Indians 
believe  there  were  only  Six  Hundred  in 
Number;  though  they  fay  themfelves  they 
are  Eight  Hundred  :  They  expecl  a  greater 
Number  in  a  few  Days  ;  which  may  amount 
to  One  Thoufand  Six  Hundred,  then  they 
fay  they  can  defy  the  .Englijh. 

The  1 8th,  The  Waters  being  yet  very 
high  hindred  me  from  advancing  on  Account 
of  my  Baggage,  wherefore  I  determined  to 
fet  my  felf  in  a  Pofture  of  Defence  againft 

any 


(     *39     ) 

any   immediate   Attack  from    the    Encmy§, 
and  went  down  to  obferve  the  river. 

The  19th,  I  difpatched  the  young  Indian 
which  was  returned  with  Mr.  Wart,  to  ths 
Half-King,  with  the  following  Speech. 

To  the   Half-King,  &c. 

My  Brethren, 

IT  gives  me  great  Pleafure  to  learii  that 
you  are  marching  to  afli$:  me  with  your 
>Counfels  5  be  of  good  Courage  my  Brethren, 
and  march  vigoroufly  towards  your  Brethren 
the  Engli/h -,  for  frefh  Forces  will  loon  join 
them,  who  will  proteft  you  againft  your  trea- 
cherous Enemy  the  French.  My  Friends 
whom  I  fend  to  you  will  acquaint  you  of  an 
agreeable  Speech  which  the  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia addreffes  to  you  :  He  is  very  forry  for 
the  bad  Ufage  you  have  received.  The  great 
Waters  do  not  permit  us  to  make  fuch  Hade 
towards  you  as  we  would  do  ;  for  that  reafon 
I  have  fent  the  young  Men  to  invite  you  to 
come  and  meet  us  :  They  can  tell  you  many 
Things  which .  they  have  leen  in  Virginia, 
and  alfo  how  well  they  were  received  by  the 
S  2  moil 

§  It  has  been  Je  en  in  the  foregoing  Pieces,  that 
this  pretended  Enemy  had  no  Inclination  to 


(    Ho    3 

moft  Part  of  our  Grandees  ;  they  did  not  ufe 
them  as  the  French  do  your  People  who  go 
to  their  Fort-j-  -,  they  refufe  them  Provifions  ; 
this  Man  has  had  given  him,  all  that  his 
Heart  could  wifh;  for  the  Confirmation  of 
all  this,  I  here  give  you  a  Belt  of  Wampum. 

The  20th,  Embarked  in  a  Canoe  with 
Lieutenant  Weft,  three  Soldiers,  and  one  In- 
dian-y  and  having  followed  the  river  along, 
about  Half  a  Mile,  were  obliged  to  come 
aihore,  where  I  met  Peter  Silver,  a  Trader, ! 
who  feemed.  to  difcourage  me  from  feeking 
a  Paffage  by  Water  ;  that  made  me  alter  my 
Mind  of  caufing  Canoes  to  be  made  ;  I  or- 
dered my  People  to  wade,  as  the  Waters 
were  fhallow  enough;  and  continued  my- 
felf  going  down  the  river  in  the  Canoe  ;  now 
finding  that  our  Canoe  was  too  fmall  for  fix 
Men,  we  flopped  to  make  fome  Sort  of  a 
Bark,  with  which,  together  with  our  Canoe, 
we  gained  Turkey-Foot  by  the  Beginning  of 

the 

•f-  This  is  the  only  bad  Ufage  this  pretended 
Half-King  could complain  of:  The¥vtnch.were 
not  willing  to  receive  in  their  Forts  fuch  Indians 
as  were  perfidious  and  evil-minded  :  It  may  be 
Jeen  in  Robert  Stobo'j  Letter  hereafter,  how: 
the  French  ufed  the  IndianSc 


(     H»     ) 

the  Night  :  We  underwent  fcveral  Difficul- 
ties about  eight  or  ten  Miles  from  thence, 
though  of  no  great  Coniequence,  finding  the 
Waters  fome  times  deep  enough  for  Canoes 
to  pafs,    and  at  other  times  more  fhallow. 

The  2 1  ft,  Tarried  there  fome  time  to 
examine  the  Place,  which  we  found  very 
convenient  to  build  a  Fort,  not  only  becaufe 
it  was  gravelly,  but  alio  for  its  being  at  the 
Mouth  of  three  Branches  of  fmall  rivers: 
The  Plan  thereof,  which  may  be  here  feen, 
is  as  exact  as  could  be  done  without  Mathe- 
maticai-Inftruments. 

We  went  about  two  Miles  to  obferve  the 
Courfe  of  the  river  which  is  very  lirait,  has 
many  Currents,  is  full  of  rocks  and  rapid  ; 
we  waded  it,  though  the  Water  was  pretty 
high  ;  which  made  me  think  it  would  not 
be  difficult  to  pafs  it  with  Canoes. 

We  alfo  found  other  Places  where  the 
Water  was  rapid,  but  not  fo  deep,  and  the 
Current  fmoother;  we  eafily  paffed  over 
them;  but  afterwards  we  found  little  or 
fcarce  any  Bottom  ;  there  are  Mountains  on 
both  Sides  of  the  river.  We  went  down 
the  river  about  ten  Miles,  when  at  laft  it 
became  fo  rapid  as  to  oblige  us  to  come  aihore. 

(From  the  2 2d  to  the  24th,  the  Journal 
contains  only  a  Difcription  of  the  Country.) 

The 


(     *4*    1 

The  24th,  This  Morning  arrived  aa  //*- 
iian  in  Company  with  him  I  had  fent  to  the 
Half-King>  and  brought  me  the  following 
Letter  from  him. 

Ho  any   of  his   Majejlys   Officers   whom   thefe 
may  concern. 

AS  'tis  reported  that  the  French  Army  is 
fet  out  to  meet  M.  George  Wajhington* 
I  exhort  you  my  Brethren  to  guard  againft 
them;  for  they  intend  to  fall  on  the  firfl 
Englijh  they  meet§  ;  they  have  been  on 
their  March  thefe  two  Days  ;  the  Half -King 
and  the  other  Chiefs  will  join  you  within 
five  Days,  to  hold  a  Council,  though  we 
know  not  the  Number  we  fhall  be.  I  /hall 
fay  no  more  ;  but  remember  me  to  my  Bre- 
thren the  Englijh. 

Signed,    The  Half-King. 


§  Obferve  the  Craft  of  this  Indian  !  //  has 
been  proved  that  M.  de  Contrecoeur  tarried  at 
Fort  du  Quefne  ;  as  to  Mr.  de  Jumonville, 
this  cannot  concern  him,  feeing  he  did  not  fet  out 
before  the  23^  and  his  Infractions  have  ieen 
already  fen. 


(     143     ) 

I  examined  thofe  two  young  Indians  in 
the  bed  Manner  I  could,  concerning  every 
Circumftance,  but  was  not  much  the  better 
Satisfied. 

They  fay  there  are  Parties  of  them  often 
out,  but  they  do  not  know  of  any  confide- 
rable  Number  coming  this  Way*.  The 
French  continue  raifing  their  Fort,  that  Part 
next  to  the  Land,  is  very  well  inclofed,  but 
that  next  to  the  Water  is  much  negle&ed, 
at  leaft  without  any  Defence  ;  they  have  only 
nine  Pieces  of  Cannon,  and  fome  of  them 
very  fmall,  and  not  one  mounted.  There 
are  two  on  the  Point,  and  the  others  at  fome 
Diftance  from  the  Fort  next  to  the  Land. 

They  relate  that  there  are  many  fick  among 
them,  that  they  cannot  find  any  Indians  to 
guide  their  fmall  Parties  towards  our  Camp, 
thefe  India?is  having  refufed  them. 

The  fame  Day,  at  Two  o'Clock,  we  ar- 
rived at  the  Meadows,  where  we  faw  a  Tra- 
der, who  told  us  that  he  came  this  Morn- 
ing from  Mr.  Gift's,  where  he  had  feen  two 
Frenchmen  the  Night  before  ;  that  he  knew 
there  was  a  ftrong  Detachment  out,  which 
confirmed  the  Accoifnt  we  had  received  from 

the 

*  A  new  Proof  of  the  Falfcbood  of  this 
Letter. 


(    tff   ) 

the  Half-King  :  Wherefore  I  placed  Troops 
behind  two  natural  Intrenchments,  where 
our  Waggons  alfo  entered. 

The  25th,  Detached  a  Party  to  go  along 
the  roads,  and  other  fmall  Parties  to  the 
Woods,  to  fee  if  they  could  make  any  Dif- 
covery.  I  gave  the  Horfe-men  Orders  to 
examine  the  Country  well,  and  endeavour  to 
get  fome  News  of  the  French,  of  their 
Forces,  and  of  their  Motions,  &c. 

At  Night  all  thefe  Parties  returned,  with- 
out having  difcovered  any  Thing,  though 
they  had  been  a  great  way  towards  the  Place 
from  whence  it  was  faid  the  Party  wa« 
coming. 

The  26th,  Arrived  William  Jenkins;  Co- 
lonel Fry  had  fent  him  with  a  Letter  from 
Colonel  Fairfax,  which  informed  me,  that 
the  Governor  himfelf,  as  alio  Colonels  Corbin 
and  Ludwell,  were  arrived  at  Winchejler,  and 
were  defirous  to  fee  the  Half-King  there, 
^whereupon  I  fent  him  an  Account  thereof. 

The  27th,  Arrived  Mr.  Gift  early  in  the 
Morning,  who  told  us,  that  Mr.  la  Force 
with  Fifty  Men,  whofe  Tracks  he  had  feen 
five  Miles  off,  had  been  at  his  Plantation  the 
Day  before,  towards  Noon  ;  and  would  have 
killed  a  Cow,  and  broken  every  Thing  in 
the  Houfe,  if  two  Indians  whom  he  had  left 

in 


(     145     ) 

in  the  Iloufe,  had  not  perfwaded  them  from 
their  Dcfign  ;  I  immediately  detached  Sixty- 
five  Men,  under  the  Command  of  Captain 
Hogi  Lieutenant  Mercer,  Eniign  Peronit% 
three  Serjeants,  and  three  Corporals,  with 
Inflrudtions. 

The  French  enquired  at  Mr.  Gift's,  what 
was  become  of  the  Half-King  ?  I  did  not  fail 
to  let  the  young  Indians  who  wrere  in  our 
Camp  know,  that  the  French  wanted  to  kill 
the  Half-King;  and  that,  had  its  defired 
Effect*.  They  thereupon  offered  to  accom- 
pany our  People,  to  go  after  the  French,  and 
if  they  found  it  true  that  he  had  been  killed, 
or  even  infulted  by  them,  one  of  them  would 
prefently  carry  the  News  thereof  to  the  Min- 
gces,  in  order  to  incite  their  Warriors  to  fall 
upon  them.  One  of  thefe  young  Men  was 
detached  towards  Mr.  Gift's-,  that  if  he 
mould  not  find  the  Half-King  there,  he  was 
to  fend  a  Meffage  by  a  Delaware. 

About  eight  at  Night,  received  an  Exprefs 

from  the  Half-King,   which    informed   me, 

that,   as  he  was  coming  to  join  us,  he  had 

feen  along  the  Road,  the  Trades  of  two  Men, 

T  which 

*  Major  Washington   it  feems%  did  not 
fcruple  to  make  ufe  of  an  hnpojlure,  for  here  ke 
takes  Pride  in  it, 


(     H°     ) 

which  he  had  followed,  till  he  was  brought 
thereby  to  a  low  obfcure  Place,  that  he  was 
of  Opinion  the  whole  Party  of  the  French 
was  hidden  there  :  That  very  Moment  I  fent 
out  Forty  Men,  and  ordered  my  Ammuni- 
tion to  be  put  in  a  Place  of  Safety,  under  a 
ftrong  Guard  to  defend  it  ;  feaping  it  to  be  a 
Stratagem  of  the  French  to  attack  our  Camp, 
and  with  the  reft  of  my  Men,  fet  out  in  a 
heavy  rain,  and  in  a  Night  as  dark  as  Pitch, 
along  a  Path  fcarce  broad  enough  for  one 
Man  ;  We  were  fometimes  fifteen  or  twenty 
Minutes  out  of  the  Path,  before  we  could 
come  to  it  again,  and  fo  dark  that  we  would 
often  ftrike  one  againft  another  :  All  Night 
long  we  continued  our  rout,  and  the  28th, 
about  Sun-rife,  we  arrived  at  the  Indian 
Camp,  where,  after  having  held  a  Council 
with  the  Half-King,  it  was  concluded  we 
mould  fall  on  them  together  -y  fo  we  fent  out 
two  Men  to  difcover  where  they  were,  as 
alfo  their  Pofture,  and  what  Sort  of  Ground 
was  thereabout  5  after  which,  we  formed  our- 
felves  for  an  Engagement§,  marching  one 
after  the  other,  in  the  Indian  Manner  :  We 
were  advanced  pretty  near  to  them,  as  we 

thought, 

§  Therefore  certain  it  is  that  the  Englifh 
bad  Orders  to  attack* 


(     H7     ) 

thought,  when  they  difcovcred  us;  where- 
upon, I  ordered  my  Company  to  fire,  mine 
was  fupported  by  that  of  Mr.  Wagers,  and 
my  Company  and  his,  received  the  whole 
Fire  of  the  French,  during  the  greateft  Part 
of  the  Action,  which  only  lafted  a  Quarter 
of  an  Hour,  before  the  Enemy  was  routed. 

We  killed  $  Mr.  de  Jumonville,   the  Com- 
mander of  that  Party,  as  alfo  nine  others  ; 
we  wounded  one,  and  made  Twenty-one  Pri- 
foners,  among  whom  were  M.  la  Force,  M. 
Drouillon,  Nand    two    Cadets.     The    Indians 
fcalped  the  Dead,  and  took  away   the  mod 
Part  of  their  Arms,  after  which  we  marched 
on  with  the  Prifoners  and  the  Guard,  to  the 
Indian  Camp,  where  again  I  held  a  Council 
with    the    Half-King  ;    and    there   informed 
him,  that  the  Governor  was  defirous  to  fee 
him,  and  was  waiting  for  him  at  Winchester  ; 
he  anfwered  that,  he  could  not  go  juft  then, 
as  his  People  were  in  too  eminent  a  Danger 
from  the  French,  whom  they  had  fallen  upon-f  ; 
T  2  that 

%  Major  Wafhington  takes  Care  here,  ?iot 
to  give  a  faithful  Account  :  But  the  Èndeav 
he  makes  tojujlify  himfelf,  will  be  feen  iereafti 

•f-  All  their  Fear  was  from  the  French, 
becaufe  they  knew  they  had  been  attacked,  . 
they  would  certainly  revenge  tbemjehes. 


(     H?     ) 

that  he  rnuft  fend  Mcffengcrs  to  ail  the 
allied  Nations,  in  order  to  invite  them  to 
take  up  the  Hatchet.  He  fent  a  young  Dela- 
ware Indian  to  the  Delaware  Nation,  and 
gave  him  alfo  a  French  Scalp  to  carry  to  them. 
This  young  Man  defired  to  have  a  Part  of 
the  Prefents  which  were  allotted  for  them, 
but  that  the  remaining  Part  might  be  kept  for 
another  Opportunity  :  He  faid  he  would  go 
to  his  own  Family,  and  to  feveral  others,  and 
would  wait  on  them  at  Mr.  Gift's,  where  he 
defired  Men  and  Horfes  fhould  be  fent  ready 
to  bring  them  up  to  our  Camp.  After  this 
I  marched  on  with  the  Prifoners;  They  in- 
formed me  that  they  had  been  fent  with  a  Sum- 
mons to  order  me  to  depart.  A  plaufible  Pre- 
tence to  difcover  our  Camp||,  and  to  obtain 
the  Knowledge  of  our  Forces  and  our  Situa- 
tion !  It  was  lb  clear  that  they  were  come  to 
reconnoitre  what  we  were,  that  I  admired  at 
their  Aflurance,  when  they  told  me  they 
were  come  as  an  Embaffy;  for  their  In ftruc- 
tions  mentioned  that  they  fhould  get  what 
Knowledge  they  could  of  the  Roads,  Rivers, 

and 

||  Then  I  find  that  the  only  Hoftility  the 
French  can  be  reproached  of  is,  the  endeavour- 
ing to  difcover  an  Enemy  who  was  marching 
with  Orders  to  attack  them. 


(     H?     ) 

and  of  all  the  Country  as  far  as  Poiowmack  : 
And  inftead  of  coming  as  an  Embaffador, 
publicly,  and  in  an  open  Manner,  they  came 
iccretly,  and  fought  after  the  moft  hidden 
Retreats;}:,  more  like  Deferters  than  Embaffa- 
dors  ;  in  fuch  retreats  they  incamped,  and 
remained  hid  for  whole  Days  together,  and 
that,  no  more  than  five  Miles  from  us:  From 
thence  they  fent  Spies  to  reconnoitre  our 
Camp  ;  after  this  was  done,  they  went  back 
two  Miles,  from  whence  they  fent  the  two 
Meffengers  fpoken  of  in  the  Inftruction,  to 
acquaint  M.  de  Contrecoeur  of  the  Place  wc 
were  at,  and  of  our  Difpolition,  that  he 
might  fend  his  Detachments  to  inforce-f-  the 
Summons  as  foon  as  it  mould  be  given. 

Befides,  an  Embaffador  has  princely  At- 
tendants; whereas  this  was  only  a  fimple 
petty  French  Officer  ;  an  Embaffador  has  no 
Need  of  Spies,  his   Character  being  always 

facred  : 


t  Why  this  Apology  in  a  bare  Journal  ?  Major  Wajli- 
ington  only  mentions  fuch  Reproaches,  as  knowing  others 
have  a  Right  to  reproach  him  in  the  like  Manner. 

t  A  Scheme  is  here  attributed  to  the  French^  which 
however,  declares  only  regular  Proceedings.  It  was  proper 
to  fummon  the  Englifb  to  depart  from  the  Territories  they  had 
invaded,  before  ever  Force  was  ufed.  It  is  the  Bufinefs  of 
an  Embaflador  to  make  that  Summon?,  and  he  mult  alfo  ac- 
quaint the  Perfon  who  fends  him,  with  whatever  is  done,  that 
if <  in  Cafe  the  Englijh  had  rqfufed  to  fatuf/  his  Demand?,  ke 
r.iight  take  his  Meafures  accordingly. 


(     *5°    ) 

facrcd:  And  feeing  their  Intention  was  fo 
good,  why  did  they  tarry  two  Days,  at  five 
Miles  diftance  from  us  J,  without  acquaint- 
ing me  with  the  Summons,  or,  at  leaft,  with 
fomething  that  related  to  the  Embaffy  ?  That 
alone  would  be  fufficient  to  raife  the  greateft 
Sufpicions,  and  we  ought  to  do  them  the  Juftice 
to  fay,  that,  as  they  wanted  to  hide  themfelves, 
they  could  not  pick  out  better  Places  than  they 
had  done. 

The  Summons  was  fo  infolent,  and  fa- 
voured the  Gafconnade  fo  much,  that  if  it 
had  been  brought  openly  by  two  Men,  it 
would  have  been  an  immediate  Indulgence, 
to  have  iuffered  them  to  return  -j-. 

It  was  the  Opinion  of  the  Half-King  in 
this  Cafe,  that  their  Intentions  were  evil*, 
and  that  it  was  a  pure  Pretence  ;  that  they 
never  intended  to  come  to  us  but  as  Enemies; 
and  if  we  had  been  fuch  Fools  as  to  let  them 
go,  they  would  never  help  us  any  more  to 
take  other  Frenchmen.  They 

%  Mr.  de  Jumonville  knew  not  that  the 
Englifh  were  Jive  Miles  off. 

-f  Another   Kind  of,  Excufe  which  only 
Jhews  his  Remorfe. 


ft 


What  Authority  1 


(     ***     ) 

They  fay  they  called  to  us  as  foon  as  they 
had  difcovered  us;  which  is  an  abfolute  Fall- 
hood,  for  I  was  then  marching  at  the  Head 
of  the  Company  going  towards  them,  and  can 
pofitively  affirm,  that,  when  they  firft  faw 
us,  they  ran  to  their  Arms,  without  calling; 
as  I  muft  have  heard  them,  had  they  fo  done. 

The  29th,  Difpatched  Enfign  Latour  to 
the  Half-King,  with  about  Twenty-five  Men, 
and  almofi:  as  many  Horfes;  and  as  I  expefted 
fome  French  Parties  would  continually  follow 
that  which  we  had  defeated,  I  fent  an  Ex- 
prefs  to  Colonel  Fry  for  a  Reinforcement. 

After  this  the  French  Prifoners  defired  to 
fpeak  with  me,  and  afked  me  in  what  Man- 
ner I  looked  upon  them,  whether  as  the  At- 
tendants of  an  Embaffador,  or  as  Prifoners  of 
War  :  I  anfwered  them  that  it  was  in  Quality 
of  the  Latter,  and  gave  them  my  Reafcns 
for  it,  as   above. 

The  30th,  Detached  Lieutenant  Weft,  and 
Mr.  Spindorph,  to  take  the  Prifoners  to  Win- 
chefter,  with  a  Guard  of  twenty  Men. 

Began  to  raife  a  Fort  with  fmall  Pallifadoes, 
fearing  that  when  the  French  fhould  hear  the 
News  of  that  Defeat,  we  might  be  attacked 
by  confiderable  Forces. 

June  the  ift,  Arrived  here  an  Indian  Tra- 
der with  the  Half-King;  They  faid  that  when 

Mr. 


i 


(       *&       ) 

Mr.  de  Jumonville  was  fent  here,  another 
Party  had  been  detached  towards  the  lower 
Part  of  the  River  ||,  in  order  to  take  and  kill 
all  the  Engli/Jo  they  mould  meet. 

We  are  finiihing  our  Fort. 

Towards  Night  arrived  Enfig»  'Towers., 
with  the  Half-Kingy  Queen  Alguipa*,  and 
about  Twenty-five  or  Thirty  Families, 
making  in  ail,  about  Eighty  or  One  Hun- 
dred Perlons,  including  Women  and  Chil- 
dren. The  old  King-)-  being  invited  to 
come  in  to  our  Tents,  told  me  that  he  had 
fent  Monakatoocha  to  Logs-Town,  with  Wam- 
pum, and  four  French  Scalps,  which  were  to 
be  fent  to  the  Six  Nations,  to  the  Wiendots, 
&c.  to  inform  them,  that  they  had  fallen 
upon  the  French^  and  to  demand  their  Af- 
fiftance. 

He  alfo  told  me  he  had  fomething  to  fay 
at  the  Council,  but  would  ftay  till  the  Arri- 
val of  the  Shawanefe,  whom  we  expecled 
next  Morning. 

The 

||  An  egregious  Falfôood. 

*  An  Indian  Squaw  created  a  Queen  by 
the  Englifli. 

•J-  Another  Indian  Chief. 


(     153     ) 

The  2d,  Arrived  two  or  three  Families 
of  the  Shdwanefe  :  We  had  Prayers  in  the 
Fort. 

The  3d,  The  Half -King  affembled  the 
Council,  and  informed  me  that  he  had  re- 
ceived a  Speech  from  Grand-Chaudiere,  in 
Anfwer    to  the  one  he  had    lent  him. 

The  5th,  Arrived  an  Indian  from  the  Ohio, 
who  had  lately  been  at  the  French  Fort  : 
This  Indian  confirms  the  News  of  two  Tra- 
ders being  taken  by  the  French,  and  fent 
to  Canada  -y  he  faith  they  have  fet  up  their 
Pallifadoes,  and  enclofed  their  Fort  with  ex- 
ceeding  large  Trees. 

There  are  eight  Indian  Families  on  this 
fide  the  River,  coming  to  join  us  :  He 
met  a  French  Man  who  had  made  his  Efcape 
in  the  Time  of  M.  de  Jumonville 's  Adtion, 
he  was  without  either  Shoes  or  Stockings, 
and  fcarce  able  to  walk  ;  however  he  let 
him  pafs,  not  knowing  we  had  fallen  upon 
them. 

The  6th,  Mr.  Gift  is  returned,  and  ac- 
quaints me  of  the  fafe  Arrival  of  the  French 
Prifoners  at  Winchejier,  and  of  the  Death 
of  poor    Colonel    Fry. 

It  gave  the  Governor  great  Satisfaction  to 
fee  the  French  Prifoners  fafely  arrived  at 
JVinchejler. 

U  lam 


(     154    ) 

I  am  alfo  informed  that,  Mr.  Montour^, 
is  coming  with  a  Commiffion  to  com- 
mand Two  Hundred  Indians. 

Mr.  Gift  met  a  French  Deferter,  who  af- 
fured  him,  that  they  were  only  Five  Hun- 
dred Men,  when  they  took  Mr  Wart1  s  Fort, 
that  they  were  now  lefs,  having  fent  Fif- 
teen Men  to  Canada,  to  acquaint  the  Go- 
vernor of  their  Succefs  :  That  there  were 
yet  Two  Hundred  Soldiers,  who  only  wait- 
ed for  a  favourable  Opportunity  to  come  and 
join  us. 

The  9th,  Arrived  the  laft  Body  of  the 
Virginia  Regimen^,  under  the  Command  of 
Colonel  Mufti  and  we  learnt  that  the  In- 
dépendant Company  of  Carolina  was  arrived 
at  Wills-Creek. 

The  10th,  I  received  the  Regiment,  and 
at  Night  had  Notice,  that  fome  French  were 
advancing  towards  us  ;  whereupon  I  fent  a 
Party  of  Indians  upon  the  Scout  towards 
Gift's,  in  order  to  difcover  them,  and  to 
know  their  Number:  Juft  before  Night 
we  had  an  Alarm,  but  it  proved  falfe. 

The 

•f*  This  is  the  Canadian-Deferter,  mention- 
ed in  the  Examination  of  the  four  Englifh 
Traders. 


The  1 2th,  Returned  two  of  the  Men, 
whom  we  had  fent  out  Yeflerday  upon  the 
Scout;  they  difcovered  a  fmall  Party  of 
French-,  the  others  went  on  as  far  as  Stuart's. 
Upon  this  Advice,  I  thought  it  neceffary  to 
March  with  the  major  Part  of  the  Regi- 
ment, to  find  out  thofe  Ninety  Men,  of 
whom  wé  had  Intelligence.  Accordingly  I 
gave  Orders  to  Colonel  Muji,  to  put  away 
all  our  Baggage  and  Ammunition,  and  to 
place  them  in  the  Fort,  and  fet  a  good  Guard 
there  till  my  Return  ;  after  which  I  march- 
ed at  the  Head  of  One  Hundred  and  Thir- 
ty Men,  and  about  Thirty  Indians  ;  but  at 
the  Diftance  of  half  a  Mile,  I  met  the  o- 
ther  Indians^  who  told  me,  there  were  on- 
ly nine  Deferters  ;  whereupon  I  fent  Mr. 
Montour,  with  fome  few  Indians,  in  Order 
to  bring  them  fafe  to  me;  I  caufed  them 
to  be  drefl,  and  they  confirmed  us  in  our 
Opinion,  of  the  Intention  of  M.  de  ywnon- 
ville's  Party  ;  that  more  than  One  Hundred 
Soldiers  were  only  waiting  for  a  favourable 
Opportunity  to  come  and  join  us  ;  that  M. 
de  Contrecoeur  expected  a  Reinforcement  of 
Four  Hundred  Men  ;  that  the  Fort  was 
compleated;  and  its  Artillery  a  fhelter  to 
its  Front  and  Gates  ;  that  there  was  a  dou- 
U2  ble 


(    156    )' 

bïc  Palîifadoe  next  to  the  Water  ;  that  they 
have  only  eight  fmall  Pieces  of  Cannon, 
and  know  what  Number  of  Men  we  are. 

They  alfo  informed  us,  that  the  Delà- 
ware  and  Shawanefe  §  had  taken  up  the 
Hatchet  againft  us  -,  whereupon,  refolved  to 
invite  thofe  two  Nations  to  come  to  a  Coun- 
cil at  Mr.  Gifts.  Sent  for  that  Purpofe 
Meffengers    and   Wampum. 

The  13th,  Perfwaded  the  Deferters  to  write 
the    following  Letter,  to  thofe  of  their  Com- 
panions who  had  an  inclination  to  DefertjJ. 
(It  is  not  in  the  Journal.) 

The  15th,  Set    about  clearing  the  Roads. 

1 6th,  Set  out  for  Red-Stone-Creek,  and 
were  extremely  perplexed,  our  Waggons 
breaking  very  often. 

17th,  Diipatched  an  Exprefs  to  the  Half- 
King^  in  order  to  perfwade  him  to  fend  a 
Meffage  to  the   Loups  ;  which  he  did. 

1 8th,  Arrived  eight  Mingoes  from  Loijlon, 
who  at  their  Arrival  told  me  of  a  Com- 
mifiion   they  had,  and  that  a  Council   muft 

be 

§  This  was  an  EffeB  of  the  Indignation 
that  the  Murder  of  Mr.  de  Jumonville,  had 
caufed. 

I!  How  can  fuch  Proceedings  bejujlifed? 


(     *57    ) 

be  held.     When  we  aflemblcd,  they  told  us 
very  fhortly,  that   they  had  often   defired  to 
fee   their  Brethren  out    in    the    Field    with 
Forces,  and  begged  us    not  to  take  it  amifs, 
that  they  were    amongft     the     French,    and 
that  they    complied  with  fome  of  their  Cuf- 
toms  -y  notwithftanding  which  they  were  na- 
turally inclined  to    fall  upon  them,    and   o- 
ther  Words   to  that  Purport  :    After  which 
'"hey    faid,.  they    had  brought  a  Speech  with 
them,  and  defired    to  deliver  it  with  Speed. 
Thefe,  and  other  Difcourfes  to  the  fame  Pur- 
pofe,    made  us    fufpect  that   their   Intentions 
towards  us  were    evil  ;  wherefore   I   delayed 
giving  them  Audience    until  the    Arrival  of 
the  Half-King,  and    defired  alfo   the  Dela- 
wares  to  have  Patience    till  then,  as  I  only 
waited  their  Arrival  to  hold  a  Council,  which 
I    expected    would  he   that  fame  Day.     Af- 
ter the    eight  Mingoes  had  conferred,  a  while 
together,  they  fent  me  fome  Strings  of  Wam- 
pum, defiring   me    to   excufe  their  infifting 
on  the   Delivery  of  their   Speech   fo  fpeedi- 
ly,  that   they   now  perceived   it   neceffaryto 
wait  the  Arrival  of  the  Half-King, 

When    the   Half-King  arrived,  I  confent- 
ed  to  give   them   Audience. 

A  Council   was   held    in    the    Camp  for 
that  Purpofe,  were  the  Half  King,  and  lève- 
rai 


1 


ral  of  the  Sise  Nations,  Loups  and  Shawanefey 
to  the  Number   of  Forty,   were  prefent. 

The  Speaker  of  the  Six-Nations  dire&ed  the 
following  Speech  to  the  Governor  of  Virginia. 
Brethren, 

WE  your  Brothers  of  the  Six-Nations 
are  now  come  to  acquaint  you,  that  we 
have  been  iiîformed  you  threaten  to  dejlroy  en- 
tirely all  your  Brethren  the  Indians,  who  will 
not  join  you  on  the  Road  -,  wherefore  we  who 
keep  in  our  own  Towns,  expeât  every  Day  to 
ie  cut  in  Pieces  by  you.  We  would  defire  to 
know  from  your  Mouth,  if  there  be  any  Truth 
in  that  Information,  and  that  you  would  not 
look  upon  it  as  prepojleroils,  that  we  are  come 
to  enquire  into  it,  fince  you  very  well  know 
that  bad  News  commonly  makes  a  deeper  Im- 
prefjion  upon  us  than  good-,  that  we  may  be 
fully  fatisfied  by  your  ^  Anfwers  of  the  Truth 
thereof  we  give  you  this  Belt  of  Wampum. 

We  know  the  French  will  afk  us  at  our 
"Return,  oj  what  Number  our  Brethren  are, 
whom  we  went  to  fee  ?  Therefore  we  defire  you, 
by  this  Belt,  to  let  us  know  it,  as  alfo  the 
Number  of  thofe  whom  you  expect,  and  at 
what  Time  you  expecl  them,  and  when  you 
reckon  to  attack  the  French,  that  we  may 
give  Notice  thereoj  to  our  Town,  and  k?iow  al- 
fo7  what  we  Jljall  have   to  tell  the French. 

A  N  SWE  R. 


(     *59    ) 

Answer. 
Brethren, 

WE  are  very  glad  to  fee you ',  andforry  that 
fuch  Reports  difquiet  you  :  The  Englifh 
do  not  intend  to  hurt  you,  or  any  of  your  Allies  ; 
this  News,  we  know,  mujl  have  been  forced  by 
the  French,  who  are  conflantly  treacherous,  af- 
ferting   the  great  eft  Falfhoods\  whenever    they 
think  they  will  turn  out  to    their  Advantage  ; 
they  (peak   well,  promife  fine  Things,  but   all 
from  the  Lips  outward;  whilfl  their  Heart  is 
corrupted  and  full  of  venomous   Poifon.     You 
have  been  their  Children,  and  they  would  have 
done   every  Thing  for  you,    but   they  no  fooner 
thought  themfelves  jlrong  enough,  than  they  re- 
turned to  their  7iatural  Pride,  and  drove  you  off 
from  your  Lands,  declaring  you  had  no  Right  on 
the  Ohio  -f*.     The  Englifh  your  real  Friends, 

are 

t  It  may  be  judged  by  what  has  been  before  mentioned, 
who  tnoft  deferve  that  Reproach,  the  French  or  the  Englijh. 
The  Impofture  which  Major  Warrington  contelTeth  he  had 
Recourfe  to,  in  order  to  irritate  the  Indians,  can  give  a  clear 
Idea  of  the  Means  which  the  EnglHb  made  ufc  of. 

t  It  is  true  that  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  have  never 
.inhabited  the  Borders  of  the  Ohh;  neither  do  they  pretend 
any  Right  to  them;  bat  the  Englifh  who,  in  Jmer/ca,  treat  them 
as  Friends  and  Allies,  would  fain  perfwade  them,  that  the 
Borders  of  the  Ohio  belong  to  the  Six  Cantor  sy  under  a  Pretence 
of  fome  ancient  Wars  that  thefe  had,  with  the  Indians/on  the 
Ohio.  And  in  Europe  they  infift,  that  Country  belongs  to 
England,  and  pretend  that  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  are 
its  Subjects. 


i 


(     i6o     ) 

are  too  generous ;  to  think  of  ufing  the  Six 
Nations,  their  faithful  Allies,  in  like  Manner  $ 
when  you  made  your  Addrefs  to  the  Governors  of 
Virginia  and  Pennfyivania  -,  they  (àt  your  re- 
peated Requejl)  fent  an  Army  to  maintain 
your  Rights  *  -,  to  put  you  in  the  PoJJeJJion  of 
your  Lands,  and  to  take  care  of  your  Wives  and 
Children,  to  difpojfefs  the  French,  to  fupport 
your  Prerogatives,  and  to  make  that  whole 
Country  fure  to  you-,  for  thofe  very  Ends  are  the 
Englifh  Arms  actually  employed-,  it  is  for  the 
Safety  of  your  Wives  and  your  Children,  that 
we  fight,  and  as  this  is  the  only  Motive  of  our 
Conduct  \\,  we  cannot  reafonably  doubt  of  being 
joined  by  the  remaining  Part  of  your  Forces,  to 
oppofe  the  common  Enemy. 

Thofe  that  will  not  join  us,  fhall  be  anfwerable 
for  whatever  may  be  the  Co?îfeque?fce  -,  we  only 
defire  your  Brethren  to  chufe  that  Side  which 
fhall  fe em  mofl  agreeable  to  them. 

The  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  are  thofe, 
who  have  the  mofl  Interefl  in  this  War  ;  for 
them  it  is  that  we  fight  y  and  it  would  greatly 

trouble 

*  Here  the  Englijb  confefs,  that  Country  is  none  of  their's; 
of  what  Hoftility  can  they  then  reproach  the  French  1  It  would 
more  become  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  to  complain;  yet 
they  do  not. 

H  So  !  This  is  the  Reafon  of  the  War  againfl:  the  French, 
Protection  due  to  the  Six  Nations,  who  never  complained. 


(     i6i     ) 

trouble  me  to  Jo  than  ike  -     :,.Ct 

s  War  in 
you  5  our  Arms  tire  open  to  n  ■ 
Hat  dy  to  noarifh  your  1  the 

Courfe  of  this  War.     The  Governor  of  Virginia 

often  defired  they  might  be  fent  to  him,  i 
might  fee  them  in  Perfon,  nourifh  and  c  loath 
\  them  according  to  their  own  Defre  -,  but  as  you 
could  not  be  determined  to  fend  them  to  him, 
are  ready  to  /bare  in  a  friendly  Manner,  all  i 
Provifons  witb'you^  and  fall  take  fuch   Mea- 
sures, and  give  fuck  Orders,  that  enough  fall 
be  brought  to  maintain  your  Prives  ana  Children. 
Such  a  CbnduB  will  evidently  prove  how  much 
more    the  Englifh    love  and  e/ieem    their  Allies 
the  Six  Nations*,  than  the  French  do  -,  as  we 
have  drawn   the  Sword  in  your  Caufe,  and  in, 
your  Defence^  delay  not  one  Moment,  be  no  more 
in  Su  f pence,  but  put  your  IV ive  s  and  Children 

r  our  Protection  -,  and  they  fiall  find  Plenty 
f  Provifons  ;  in  the  mean  while,  fei  your  ioung 
X  ".Men 

*  The  grand  Argument  of  the  Englifh 
n  Europe,  to  affume  the  Country   which  lies 
on   the  other  Side  of  the  Apalachian   Moun- 
ains,  is,    that  the   Six  Nations  are  their  Si 
e&s  :   How  can  we   reconcile   that,  with 
ieafonings  they  hold  with   the   Si 
when  they  (peak  to  them  D 


f  162  } 

Men  and  your  W amors  to  Jharpen  their  Rat- 
chets, in  orxfcf  to  join  and  unite  with  us  vigc- 

roujly  in  our  Bait  la,    ■ 

The  Prefent,  my  Brethren,  which  I  offer  you ^ 
is  not  jo  tcmfiderable  as  I  could  *wijh,  but  I  expeël 
in  a  fiort  Time  a  Quantity  of  Goods,  which  are 
■to  be  at  my  Difpofalr  i?i  order  to  reward  thofe 
whofiall  havejhewn  themf elves  brave  and  a  clive 
on  this  Occafon  -,  however,  I  Jlzall  recompense 
them  mojl  genercu/Iy. 

Be  of  good-  Courage,  my  Brethren,  deliver 
your  Country,  and  make  it  Jure  to  your  Children  ; 
let  me  know  the  Thoughts  of  your  Hearts  on  this 
Affair,  that  I  may  give  an  Account  of  your 
Sentiments  to  your  great  Friend  and  Brother 
the  Governor  of  Virginia.  In  order  to  affure 
you  of  my  Sincerity  and  Ejleem,  I  prefent  you 
'this  Belt. 

The  20th,  The  Council  flill  continued. 

When  the  Delawares  knew  that  they  were 
fufpected  of  being  in  the  French  Intercity 
they  demanded  the  Reafon  why  they  had 
been  fent  for,  and  what  they  fhould  teil  the 
French  at  their  Return. 

I  anfwered  them,  it  was  to  let  themj 
know,  that  we  were  come  at  their  reite-^ 
rated   requeils    to    afiift   them    with   Sword 

in! 


(     «*3     ) 

Hand  f  5  that  we  intended  to  put  them 
the     Poflèffion    of    thofe    Lands    which    tl 
icb  had  taken  from  them. 

And   as    they    had   oiten    demanded    our 
Affiftance,    in    Quality   of  our    ancient    a 
faithful  Allies,  I   invited  them   to   come  a 
place  themfclves  under  our  Proteâioç,  tog 
!  ther  with  the  Women  and  Children. 

Whereupon    t]  :r  ftretched 

out  his  Blanket  on  the  Floor,  and  bid  lève- 
rai Belts  and  Strings  oî  Wampum  thereon, 
in  the  fame  order  he  had  received  them  from 
the  French.  This  done,  he  repeated  the 
Speeches  of  M.  de  Contrecoeur  X  ;  after  which, 
the  Delaware  Speaker  directed  to  me 
following  Speech. 


X  2  fc  Brethren, 


•y-  The  Delawares   at  that  Twie  were  in 
the  French   In/ ere/l  ;  and  gave  no  Credit  toile 
D  if  cour]  e  of  the  En  glim,  who   endeavoured 
per j wade  them,  that  they  were  only  come  at  tl 

t  Major  Washington  dues  not  relat 
his  J  hofe  Speeches  of  the  French 

were  ?  He  had  no  Doubt ;  good  Reafops  to 
ceil  them. 


(     i64    ) 

<c  Brethren,  the  Governor  of  Virginia  and 
Pennfylvania  ;    We    your  Brethren  the  Dela- 
wares,  remember  perfectly  well   the  Treaty  cf 
Loifcon,  where  you  and  your  Uncles  the  Six  Na- 
tions,   confidering  the    bad  Situation  we  were 
in,  for  Want  of  a  Man  to  be  our  Leader,  you 
then  gave  us  a   King,  and  told  us,  he  Jhouid 
tranfaçl  ail  our  public  Affairs  between  you  and 
ns^  ,  you  gave   us  a  Charge,  not  to   lift  en  to 
every  vain  Report  that  might  be  fpread,  but  t& 
confiât  ourf elves,  and  to  do,  what  would  feem  to 
us,  to  be  right  :    We  afure  you  that  we  have 
given  7io  Credit  to  any  of  tkoje  Reports,  nor  ever 
[hall  5  but  will  be  guided  by  you  our  Brethren, 
and  by  our  Uncles  the  Six  Nation s,  and  will 
do  on  all  Occafons,    what  is  jufl   and  right, 
taking  Advice  from  you  alone  :    To  affure  you 
cf  the  Defre  we  have  to  fulfil  our  Engagements 
with  you,  we  prefent  you  this  Belt!' 

After  which  they,  made  the  following 
Difcourfe,  to  the  Six  Nations. 

"  Uncles,  Thirteen  Days  are  now  pajl,  f?ice 
we  have  received  this  Belt  from  the  Onondago 
Council  -,  I  do  not  doubt  your  knowing  it  :  They 
exhorted  us  to  remember  old  Times,  when  they 
chathed  us  with  a  Robe  reaching  down  to  our 

Heels, 

§  Could  it  be  from  this  pretended  King, 
the  Englijh  had  made  fuch  Purchafes  ? 


(     *65     ) 

Heels  5  afterwards  told  us,  to  raife  it  up  to  cur 
ere  to  make  it  very  f aft y  and  come 
to  them  at  the  Head  of  Sufquehannah,  <wi 

■.'  had  provided  a  Place  for  us  to  live-,  that 
they  had  a  If  9  fint  a  Speech  to  thofe  of  our  Nation 
who  live  near  the  Minnefmks,  inviting  them  to 
go  to  the  Place  by  them  appointed,  that  they  might 
live  with  us  :  They  alfofent  us  a  Speech,  to  give 
us  Notice  that  the  ÈnghYh  and  French  were 
upon  \he  Point  of  coming  to  an  Engagement  on 
the  River  Ohio,  and  exhorted  us  to  do  nothing 
in  that  funBure,  but  what  was  reafonable,  and 
what  they  would  tell  us  thewfelves  ;  lajlly,  they 
recommended  to  us,  to  keep  f aft  Hold  of  the  Chain 
of  Friendfiip,  which  has  Jo  long  fubftjled  be- 
tween  us  and  them,  and  our  Brethren  the 
Englifh. 

A    BELT. 

Then  the  Delawares  fpoke  to  the  Shawanefe 
as  follows. 

<c  Grand  Sons,  by  this  Belt,  we  take  you 
between  our  Arms,  and  fetch  you  away  from 
the  Ohio,  where  you  now  arc,  to  carry  you 
among  ft  us,  that  you  may  live  where  we  hvex 
and  there  live  in  Peace  and  Quiet. 

The  Council  after  this  was  adjourned  to 
the  next  Morning.  . 

The  2 1  ft,  Met  very  early,  and  I  fpoke 
rft  to  the  Delawares  in  the  following  Manner. 


t 


(     1 66     ) 

cc  Brethren,  By  your  open  and  generous  Con- 
iu£i  on  this  Occafion,  Ton  bave  made  yourfilves 
dearer  to  us  than  ever  ;  we   return   Tou    our 
Thanks,  that  Tou  did  not  go  to  Venango,  when 
fbeFrenchfir/i  invited  Tou  there-,  their  treat- 
ing Tou  in  fuch  a  childijh  Manner,  as  we  per- 
ceive they  do,  raifes  in  us  a  juft  and  ftrong  Re- 
fait ment  :    They  call   Tou   their   Children,  and 
fpeak  te  Tou,  as  if  Tou  in  reality  were  Children, 
and  had  no  more  Under/landing  than  fuch. 
.  Conjuler  well  my  Brethren,  and  compare  all 
their  Difcourfe,  and  Tou  will  find  that  all  it 
tends  to,  is  to  tell  Tou,  I  am  going  to  open  Tour 
Eyes,  to  unjlop  Tour  Ears,  and  fuch  like  Words 
to  no  Purpofe,  only  proper  to  amufe  Children. 
7 ou  alfo  obferve  Brethren,  that  if  they  deliver  a 
Speech,  or  make  a  Promife,  and  confirm  it  by  a 
Belt,  they  imagine  it  binds  them  no  longer  than 
they  think  it  confifient  with  their  Inter efi  to  Jla?id 
to  it.     They  have  given  one  Example  of  it  -,  and 
I  will  make  Tou  obferve  it,  in  the  Jump  which 
they  fay  they  have  made  over  the  Boundaries, 
which  Tou  had  fet  them  \    which  ought  to  jlir 
You  up  my  Brethren,  to  ajujl  Anger,  and  tdufe 
Tou  to  embrace  the  favourable  Opportunity  that 
"Joe  offer  Tou,  as  we  are  come,  at  Tour  Requefi, 
to  qjjijl  Tou,  and  by  Means  of  which,  Tou  may 
make  them  Jump  back  again,  with  more  Speed 
than  they  advanced. 

A 


(      '67     ) 


String   of  Wampum. 


o 


cPhe  French  *•  nually  telling  You,  not 

io  give  Heed  to  the  ill  Repot  U  that  are  tali  Tm 
concerning  them  who  are  your  Fathers,     If  they 
did  not  know  in  their  very  Souls,  how  richly  i 
deferve  it  on  your  Account \  why  Jkould  they  } 
peel  being  accufed?    Why  Jl:ou!d  they  forward 
You  of  it,  in  order  to  hinder  You  from  believing 
isshat  is  tola  l'on  concerning  them  ?  With  Beg 
to  what  they  tell  You  of  us,  our  Conduce  alone 
will  anjwer  in  our  Behalf:  Examine  the  Tr\ 
yourfelves  ;   Ygu  know  the  Roads  leading  to 
Habitations,  You  have  lived  amongjt  us,  You 
fpeak  our  Language  >  but  in  order  to  jujlify  our- 
f elves  from  whatever  might  be  /'aid  o.gainfl  us, 
and  ajjure  You    of  our  brotherly  Love  -,  we  onu 
ntore  invite  your  old  Men,  your  Wives  and  y 
Children,  to  take  SancJuary  under  cur  Pre 
tion,  and  between    cur   Arms,  in   order    to 
plentifully  fed,  whiljl  your  Warriors  and  ye 
Men  join  with  ours,  and  ejpoufi    to\ 
common  Caife. 

A  String  of  Wampi 

Brethren,  we  thank  ilu  with  all  our  H\ 
for  having  declared  unto  us,  your  Refok 

accompli jUng  the  Err. 


entered  into,  at  the  Treaty  of  Loifton*,  and  we 
can  do  no  otherwife  than  praife  your  generous 
Conduce  with  Regard  to  your  Grand  Sons  the 
Shawanefe  -,  it  gives  us  infinife  P/eafure. 

We  are  greatly  obliged  to  the  Council  given 
You  by  Qnondago,  charging  Ton  to  hold  faji  the 
Chain  of  Friend/hip  by  which  we  are  bound-,  I 
dare  fay,  that  had  he  known,  how  nearly  You 
are  interejled  in  this  War,  or  that  it  is  for  the 
Levé  of  You,  and  at  your  Requejl  -f,  we  have 
taken  up  Arms,  he  woidd  have  ordered  you  to 
Declare  a?id  to  affi  immediately  againjl  the 
Common  Enemy  of  the  Six  <  Nations.  In 
order  to  ajfure  you  of  my  Affeffiion,  and  to  con- 
firm the  Truth  of  what  I  have  J aid,  I  prefent 
you  thefe 


Two  great  Strings. 


After 

*  What  this  Treaty  of  Loijlon  can  be,  no 
one  knows  ;  this  Journal  makes  it  appear,  that 
it  was  convened  by  a  Man  whom  the  Englijh 
gave  them  for  a  King,  and  of  Confequence 
they  were  very  fafe. 

•f*  Why  fo  often  repeated;  Major  Wajh- 
ington  was  certainly  in  Doubt  as  to  the  D&* 
lawares  giving  any  Credit  tp  it 


(     'i69     ) 

After  this,  the  Council  broke  up,  and  thofe 
ichertfus  Devils,  who  had  been  fent  by  the 
French  as  Spies,  returned,  though  not  with- 
out fome  Tale  ready  prepared  to  amufe  the 
French,  which  may  be  of  Service  to  make 
our  own  Deligns  fucceed. 

As  they  had   toid  me  there  were  Sixteen 
Hundred  French^  and  Seven*  Hundred  Indians 
on   their  March,  to    reinforce    thofe    at    the 
Garri'fon,  I  perfwaded  the  Halj-IUng  to  fend 
three  of  his   Men  to  inquire  into  the  Truth 
of  it  ;    though  I    imagined  this  News  to  be 
only   Soldiers   Difcourfe;  thefe   Indians   w^ere 
accordingly   fent    in   a  fecret  Manner,  heroic 
the  Council  broke  up,  and  had  Orders  to  go 
to   the  Fort,  and    get  what  Information  they 
could    from  all  the  Indians  they  mould  meet, 
and    if  there    was    any  News   worth  while, 
one  -j-  of  them  mould  return,  and  the  other 
two   continue  their  Rout  23  far  as   Venajigo^ 
and  about  the  Lake,  in  order  to  obtain  a  per- 
fect Knowledge   of  every  Thing. 

I  alfo  perfwaded  King  Shi??gasy  to  fend  out 

Rangers   towards    the    River,    to    bring   us 

Y  News, 

•f  It  was  hy  the  Means  cf  thofe  Indiang, 
thai   the  Englifh  had   a  Com  muni  cat:  en    ipifjb 
j  Stobo     the    <Sj<j\    whofe    Letter    will    he  f:en 
\  thereafter* 


(     *7°     ) 

News,  in  cafe  any  French  fbouid  come  5  I 
gave  him  alio  a  Letter,  which  he  was  to  fend 
me  back  again  by  an  Exprefs,  to  prevent  my 
being  impofcd  upon  by  a  falfe  Aiarro. 
•  Though  King  Shtngas,  and  others  of  the 
Dclaii-ares,  could  not  be  periuaded  to  retire 
to  our  Camp  with  their  Families,  through 
the  Fear  they  were  in  of  QnoiidagQS  Coun- 
cil, they  neverthelefs  gave  us  ftrong  Afluran- 
ces  of  their  Affiftance,  and  direfted  us  in 
what  Manner  to  aft,  in  order  to  obtain  our 
Defire  ;  the  Method  was  this  ;  we  were  to 
prepare  a  great  War-Belt,  to  invite  ail  thofe 
Warriors  who  would  receive  it,  to  aft  inde- 
pendantly  from  their  King  and  Council;  and 
King  Shingas  promifed  to  take  privately  the 
•moft  fubtile  Methods  to  make  the  Affair  fuc- 
ceed,  though  he  did  not  dare  to  do  it  openly. 

The  very  Day  the  Council  broke  up,  I 
periwaded  Kaqiiehafton,  a  trufty  Delaware,  to 
carry  that  Letter  to  the  Fort  which  the  French 
Deferters  had  written  to  their  Comrades,  and 
gave  him  Inftruftions  how  he  mould  behave 
in  his  Obfervations,  upon  feveral  Articles  of 
which  I  had  fpoken  to  him;  for  I  am  cer- 
tain the  Fort  may  be  furprized,  as  the  French 
are  encamped  outfide,  and  cannot  keep  a 
ftrift  Guard,  by  Reafon  of  the  Works  they 
are  about, 

I 


(     '7'     ) 

I  alfo  perfwaded  George,  another  trufty 
Delaware,  to  go  and  take  a  View  of  the 
Fort,  a  little  zitcr^Kajuebu/lpn,  and  gave  him 
proper  Inftru&ions,  recommending  him  par- 
ticularly to  return  with  Speed,  that  wc  might 
have   frefli   Ne 

•  Prefently  after  the  Council  was  over,  ru  - 
withftanding  ail  that  Mr.  Montour  could  do 
to  oiflwade  them,  the  De&warés,  as  alio  the: 
Ha  If -King,  and  all  the  ether  Indians,  return- 
ed to  the  Great  Meadows  ;  but  though  we 
had  loft  them,  I  ilill  had  Spies  of  our  own 
People,  to  prevent  being    iurprifed. 

As  it  had  been  told  me,  that  if  I  feni 
a  Belt  of Wampum and  a  Speech,  that  might 
bring  us  back  both  the  Ha[f-Kirg  and  his 
young  Men  -y  accordingly  I  lent  the  follow- 
ing Speech    by  Mr.    Crvghay. 

'Tis  but  lately  Jince  we  were;  affembfed  to- 
gether ;  we  were  fent  here  by  your  Brother  thq 
Governor  cf  Virginia,  at  your  cgn  Reqi  , 
in  Order  fo  juccour  you,  and  f git  fir  \  ; 
Caufe  -,  therefore  my  Brethren,  J  mujl  requite 
that  you  and  your  young  Men  çàme  to  join 
fncafnp  with  us,-  that  we  may  be  ready  to  /v- 
(  v  our  Brother  Monacotcocha,  wbom  I  dat* 
iy  ex  feci:  That  this  Requeft 

./  Ejfecl,   and  make  a  fuit  able  J:. 

Y  2  en 


(     *72     ) 

on  your  Minds,  I  prefent  yen  with  this  String 
of  Wampum. 

As  thofe  Indians,  who  were  Spies  fent  by. 
the  French,  were  very  inquifitive,  and  aiked 
us  many  Queftions,  in  order  to  know  by 
what  Way  we  propofed  to  go  to  the  Fort, 
and  what  Time  we  expected  to  arrive  there  j 
I  left  off  working  any  further  at  the  Road, 
and  told  them  we  intended  to  keep  on  a- 
crofs  the  Woods  as  far  as  the  Fort,  fal- 
ling the  Trees,  &c.  That  we  were  waiting 
here  for  the  Reinforcement  which  wras 
coming  to  us,  our  Artillery,  and  our  Wag- 
gons to  accompany  us  there;  but,  as  foon 
as  they  were  gone,  I  fet  about  marking  out 
and    clearing  .a    Road  towards  Red-Stone. 

The  25th,  Towards  Night  came  three 
Men  from  the  Great  Meadows,  amongft 
whom  was  the  Son  of  Queen  Aliguipa. 

He  brought  me  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Croghan, 
informiug  me  what  Pains  he  was  at  to 
perfwade  any  Indians  to  come  to  us  ;  that 
the  Halfr-King  was  inclined,  and  was 
preparing  to  join  us,  but  had  received  a 
Blow  which  was  a  Hindrance  to  it.  I 
thought  it  proper  to  fend  Captain  Montour 
to  Fort-Neeejjity,  in  order  to  try  if  he  could, 
poffibly,  gain  the  Indians  to  come  to  us. 

The 


(     *73     ) 

The  26th,  Arrived  an  Indian,  bringing 
News  that  Monacctooc ha,  had  burnt  his  Village 
(Loiflcn)  and  v/as  gone  by  Water  with  his 
People  to  Red-Stone,  and  may  be  expeclcd 
there  in  two  Days.  This  Indian  paflcd 
clofe  by  the  Fort,  and  aflures  us,  that  the 
French  had  received  no  reinforcement,  ex- 
cept a  fmall  Number  of  Indians,  who  bad 
killed,  as  he  faid,  two  or  three  of  the  De- 
laware*. I  did  not  fail  to  relate  that  Piece 
of  News  to  the  Indians  in  its  proper  Co- 
lours, and  particularly  to  two  of  the  Delà- 
wares   who  are  here. 

The  27th,  Detached  Captain  Lewis,  Lieu- 
tenant IVagghener,  and  Enlign  Mercer,  two 
Serjeants,  two  Corporals,  one  Drummer,  and 
Sixty  Men,  in  order  to  endeavour  to  clear 
a  Road,  to  the  Mouth  of  Red-Stone-Creek 
on   Monaungahela. 

NUP4B.  IX. 
The  Journal  of  M.  de  ViHiers. 

June  the  26th. 

ARRIVED  at  Fort  du  Quefne  about  eight 
in  the  Morning,  with  the  feveral  Na- 
tions, the  Command  of  which  the  General 
had    given  me. 

At    my    Arrival    was    informed   that   M. 
!  de  Contrecoeur  had  made   a   Detachment   of 

Five 


(     *74     ) 

Five  Hundred  French »,  and  eleven  Indians  of 
different  Nations  on  the  Ohio,  the  Com- 
mand of  which  he  had  given  to  Chevalier 
le  Mercier,  who  was  to  depart  the  next  Day» 

As  I  was  the  oldeft  Officer,  and  com- 
manded the  Indian  Nations,  and  as  my 
Brother  had  been  aflaffinated*,  M.  de 
Contrecoeur  honoured  me  with  that  Command, 
and  M.  le  Mercier,  though  deprived  of  the 
Command,  feemed  very  well  pleafed  to  make 
the    Campaign     under  my  Orders. 

M.  de  Contrecoeur  called  Meffrs.  le  Mercier, 
de  Longueil,  and  myfelf,  in  order  to  deli- 
berate upon  what  mould  be  done  in  the 
Campaign,  as  to  the  Place,  the  Strength  of 
the  Enemy,  the  Affaffination  committed  by 
them  upon  my  Brother,  and  the  Peace  we 
intended  to  maintain  between  the  two  Crowns. 

The  28th,  M.  de  Contrecoeur  gave  me 
my  Orders,  the  Provifions  were  distributed, 
and  we  left  the  Fort  about  Ten  in  the  Morn- 
ing. I  began,  from  that  Inftant,  to  fend  out 
fome  Indians  to  range  about  by  Land,  to 
prevent  being    furprized. 

I  pofted  myfelf  at  a  fmall  Diftance  a^ 
bove  the  firft  Fork  of  the  River  Monau?jga- 
kela,    though  I   had  no  Thought    of  taking 

that 

*  Mr.  yurno?iviUc* 


(     *75     ) 

that  Rout.  I  called  the  Indians  together, 
and  demanded  their  Opinion.  It  was  de- 
cided, that  it  was  luitable  to  take  the  Ri- 
ver Monaungahela \  though  the  Rout  was 
longer. 

The  29th,  Mafs  was  faid  in  the  Camp, 
after  which  we  marched  with  the  ufual  Pre- 
caution. 

30th,  Came  to  the  Hangar d  §  which  was  a 
fort  of  Fort  built  with  Logs  one  upon  another, 
well  notched  in,  about  Thirty  Foot  in  Length, 
and  Twenty  in  Breadth,  and  as  it  was  late,  and 
would  not  do  any  Thing  without  confulting  the 
Indians ^  I  encamped  about  two  Mufket-fhot 
from  that  Piace. 

At  Night  I  called  the  Sachems  together, 
and  we  confulted  upon  what  was  the  befc 
to  be  done  for  the  Safety  of  our  Pettiajpas, 
and  of  the  Provifions  we  left  in  referve,  as 
alio   what  Guard  mould  be  left  to  keep  it. 

July  the  1  ft,  Put  our  Pettiaguas  in  a  fafe 
Place,  our  Effects,  and  every  Thing  we 
could  do  without,  we  took  into  the  Ha?2gard-, 
where  I  left  one  good  Serjeant,  with  Twen- 
ty Men,  and  fome  fick  Lidians.  Ammuni- 
tion 

§  This  Hansard  had  been  lui li  by  the  En* 

giifh. 


(     17*    ) 

tion  was  afterwards  diftributed,  and  we  be- 
gan our  March. 

At  about  Eleven  o'Clock,  we  difcovered 
fome  Tracks,  which  made  us  fufpecl  we  were 
difcovered. 

At  Three  in  the  Afternoon,  having  no 
News  of  our  Rangers,  I  fent  others,  who 
met  thofe  fent  before,  and  not  knowing 
each  other,  were  near  upon  exchanging  Shot, 
but  happily  found  their  Miftake;  they  re- 
turned to  us,  and  declared  to  have  been  at 
the  Road  which  the  Engliflj  were  clearing  ; 
that  they  were  of  Opinion  no  Body  had 
been  that  Way  for  three  Days:  We  were 
no  longer  in  Doubt  of  our  Proceedings  be- 
ing known  to  the  Englifh. 

The  2d,  We  marched  at  Break  of  Day, 
without  waiting  the  return  of  our  Rangers. 
After  having  marched  fome  Time,  we  ftopp'd, 
for  I  was  refblved  to  proceed  no  further, 
until  I  had  poiitive  News  y  wherefore  I  fent 
Scouts  upon  the  Road.  In  the  mean  while, 
came  fome  of  thofe  Indians  to  me,  whom 
we  had  left  at  the  Hangar  dy  they  had  taken 
a  Prifoner,  who  called  himfelf  a  Deferter  ; 
I  examined  h\mr  and  threatned  him  with 
the  Rope,  if  he  offered  to  impofe  upon  me. 
I   learned  that    the    Englijh   had  left  their 

Pcft,  I 


(     l77     ) 

Poil,  in    Order  to  rejoin  their  Fort,  and  that 
they    had  brought  back  their  Cannon. 

Some  of  our  People  finding  that  the  £//- 
glijb  had  abandoned  the  Camp,  we  went 
thereto,  and  I  fent  fome  Men  to  fearch  it 
throughout,  where  they  found  lèverai  Tools, 
and  other  Utcniils  hidden  in  many  Places, 
which  I  ordered  them  to  carry  away  :  As  it  was 
late,  I  made  the  Detachment  encamp  there. 

I  examined  the  Eng/ijh  Man  a  fécond 
Time,  fometimes  terrifying  him,  and  at  o- 
ther  Times  giving  him  Hopes  of  Reward  ;  I 
imparted  all  he  told  me  to  the  Indians,  as  alfo 
of  mv  refolution  not  to  expoie  them  rafli- 
ly.     We  had  Rain  all  Night. 

The  30th,  At  Break  of  Day  I  prepared 
for  my  Departure,  .=  I  dt fired  the  Indians  to 
provide  me  ionic  Scouts  ;  the  Weather  was  ' 
inclining  to  Rain,  .but  I  forefaw  the  Necef- 
iity  of  preventing  the  Enemy  in  their 
Works. 

We  marched  the  whole  Day  in  the  Rain, 
and  I  fent  Scouts  one  after  another  :  I 
fropped  at  *the  Place  where  my  Brother  had 
been  afTaiFuiated,  and  faw  there  yet  fome  Dead 
Bodies. 

When    I  came   within  three  Quarters    of 
a  League  from    the   Englijl)  Fort,  I    order- 
ed my  Men  to  march  in  Columns,  every  Of- 
Z  cer 


(     *7*     ) 

cer  to  his  Divifion,  that  I  might  the  better 
difpofe  of  them  as  Necefiity  would  require. 

I  fent  Scouts,  and  gave  them  Orders  ^o 
go  clofe  up  to  the  Camp,  Twenty  others 
to  fuftain  them;  and  I  advanced  in  Order. 
My  Scouts  foon  informed  me  that  we  were 
difcovered,  and  that  the  Englijh  were  com- 
ing in  Battle-Array  to  attack  us;  and  that 
they  were  very  near  us  ;  upon  which  I  or- 
dered my  Men  in  a  Pofture  fuitable  for  a 
Bum  Fight.  It  was  not  long  before  I  per- 
ceived that  my  Scouts  had  milled  mc,  and 
ordered  the  Troops  to  advance  on  that  Side 
where    we    expected  them  to  attack  us. 

As  we  had  no  Knowledge  of  the  Place, 
we  prefented  our  Flank  to  the  Fort,  when 
they  began  to  fire  upon  us,  and  al- 
moft  at  the  fame  Time,  I  perceived  the  En- 
glifo  on  the  Right,  in  order  of  Battie,  and 
coming  towards  us.  The  India?isy  as  well  as 
ourlelves,  let  up  a  great  Cry,  and  advanced 
towards  them;  but  they  did  not  give  us 
Time  to  fire  upon  them,  before  they  fhel- 
tered  themfeives  in  an  Intrenchment,  which 
was  adjoining  to  their  Fort:  After  which 
we  aimed  to  inveft  the  Fort,  which  was 
advantageoufly  enough  fituated  in  a  Mea- 
dow, within  a  Mufket-fhot  from  the  Woods. 
We  drew  as  near  them  as  poffible,  that  we 

might 


(     »79     ) 

might  not  expofe  His  Majefty's  Subjects  to 
no  Purpofe  ;  the  Fire  was  very  brifk  on  both 
Sides,  and  I  chofe  that  Place,  which  fecmcd 
to  me  the  molt  proper,  in  Cafe  we  fhould 
be  expofed  to  a  Sally;  we  fired  fo  fmartly 
as  to  put  out  (if  I  may  ufe  the  Exprerlion) 
the  Fire  of  their  Cannon  with  our  Mufket- 
fhot. 

Towards  Six  at  Night,  the  Fire  of  the  E- 
nemy  encreafed  with  more  Vigour  than  ever, 
and  iafted  until  Eight.  We  brifkiy  returned 
their  Fire.  We  took  particular  Care  to  ie- 
cure  our  Ports,  to  keep  the  Englijh  fail 
up  in  their  Fort  all  Night  ;  and  after  ha- 
ving fixed  ourfelves  in  the  beft  Pofitition  we 
could,  we  let  the  E?ig!ijh  know  that  if 
they  would  fpeak  to  us,  we  would  flop 
firing.  They  accepted  the  Propofal  >  there 
came  a  Captain  to  the  Place  where  I  was  ; 
I  fent  M.  le  Mercier  to  receive  him,  and  I 
went  to  the  Meadow,  where  I  told  him,  that 
as  we  were  not  at  War,  we  were  very  wil- 
ling to  fave  them  from  the  Cruelties  to  which 
they  expofed  themfelves  on  Account  of  the  In- 
dians-,  but  if  they  were  ftubborn,  we  would 
take  away  from  them  all  Hopes  or  efcaping; 
that  we  confented  to  be  favourable  to  them 
at  prefent,  as  we  were  come  only  to  revenge 
my  Brother's  J^jajfmationy  and  to  oblige  them 
Z  2  to 


(     i8o     ) 

to  quit  the  Lands  of  the  King   our  Mailer, 
and  we  agreed    to   grant   them  he  Capitula- 
tion, whereof  a  Copy  is  here  annexed.  We  con- 
sidered that  nothing  could  be  more  advantage- 
ous than  this  Capitulation,  as  it  was  not   pro- 
per to  make  Prifoners  in  a  Time  of  Peace.  We 
made  the  £/?£///#  con  fent  to  fign,  that  they  had 
alTalfinated  my  Brother  in  his  own  Camp  ;    we 
had    Holtages    for  the  Security  of  the  French 
who    were  in  their  Power;     we  made  them 
abandon  the    King's    Country  ;    we    obliged 
them  to  leave  us  their  Cannon,  confiding  of 
nine  Pieces  ;  we    deftroyed    all  their   Horfes 
and  Catttle,  and  made  them  to  fign,  that  ,the 
Favour   we  granted  them,  was  only  to  prove 
how  defirous  we  were  to  ufe  them  as  Friends. 
That  very   Night  the   Articles  of  Capitu- 
lation  were    iigned,  and  the     two    Hoftâges 
I  had  demanded,  were  brought  to  my  Camp. 

The  4th,  At  Break  of  Day  I  lent  a  De- 
tachment, to  take  Poflfeffion  of  the  Fort,  the 
Garrifon  filed  off,  and  the  Number  of  their 
Dead  and  Wounded  moved  me  to  Pity, 
notwith Handing  my  Reientment  for  their 
having  in  fuch  a  Manner  taken  away  my 
Brother's    Life. 

The  Indians  who  had  obeyed  my  Orders 
in  every  Thing,  claim'd  a  Plight  to  the  Plun- 
der, but    I  oppofed  it  :     However,  the   En- 

glijh 


p7y£  being  frightned,  fled  and  left  their  Tents 
and  one  of  their  Colours,  I  demolifhed  their 
Fort;  and  M.  le  Mercier  ordered  their  Can- 
non to  he  broken  ;  as  alio  the  one  granted 
by  Capitulation,  the  Englijh  not  being  able 
to   carry   it   away. 

I  haftened  my  Departure,  after  having 
burfted  the  Cafks  wherein  was  their  Liquor, 
to  prevent  the  Diibrders  which  would  have 
certainly  happened  -,  one  of  my  Indians  took 
Ten  Englijh  Men  whom  he  brought  to  me, 
but  I  lent  them  back  again  by  another. 

All  I  loft  in  this  Attack,  were  two  Men 
killed,  and  one  Fatiy-f,  Seventeen  wound- 
ed, two  whereof  are  Indians,  exclufive  of  a 
Number  fo  (lightly  wounded  as  to  have  no 
Occafion  for  the  Surgeon. 

We  marched  that  Day  about  two  Leagues, 
and  I  detached  fome  of  my  Men  to  carry  on 
Litters  thofe  who  were  badly  wounded. 

The  5th,  About  Nine  I  arrived  at  the 
Camp  which  the  EnglijJo  had  abandoned,  I 
ordered  the  Intrenchment  to  be  demolifhed, 
and  the  Houfes  to  be  burnt  down  ;  and  after 
having  detached  M.  de  la  Cbauvignerie  to 
burn  the  Houfes  round  about,  I  continued 
my  Rout,  and  incamped  three  Leagues  from 
thence, 

The 

4-  The  Name  of  an  Indian. 


(    i8*    ) 

The  6th,  Departed  early  in  the  Morning, 
and  arrived  about  tea  at  the  Hangard. 

We  put  our  Pettiauguas  in  orders  victualled 
the  Detachment  ;  carried  away  the  referve  of 
Provifions  which  we  had  left  there,  and  found 
feveral  Things  which  the  Englijh  had  hidden, 
after  which  I  burnt  down  the  Hangard.  We 
then  embarked,  and  kept  on  till  about  fix  at 
Night,  when  I  was  obliged  to  incamp  in  a 
very  great  Rain. 

The  7th,  Continued  my  rout,  after  having 
detached  M.  de  la  Chauvignerie  to  acquaint 
M.  de  Contrecoeur  of  the  Succefs  of  our  Cam- 
paign ;  pafling  along,  we  burnt  down  all  the 
Settlements  we  found,  and  about  four  o'Clock 
I  delivered  my  Detachment  to  M.  de  Con- 
trecoeur. 

Capitulation  granted  by  Mr.  de  Viiliers, 
Captain  and  Commander  of  his  Majefiys 
Troops,  to  thofe  "Englifh  Troops  aBuaily  in 
Fort  Neceffity. 

July  the  3d,   1754,  at  Eight  o'Clock 
at  Night. 

AS  our  Intentions  have  never  been  to  trouble 
the  Peace  and  good  Harmony  fubfifting 
between  the  two  Princes  in  Amity,  but  only 

to 


(      i83     ) 

to  revenge  the  Afîaflînation,  committed  on 
one  of  our  Officers,  Bearer  of  a  Summon,  as 
alfo  on  his  Efcorte,  and  to  hinder  any  Efta- 
bliuhment  on  the  Lands  of  the  Dominions  of 
the  King  my  Mafter;  upon  thefe  Confide- 
rations,  we  are  willing  to  fhfew  Favour  to  all 
the  Englijlo  who  are  in  the  faid  Fort,  on  the 
following  Conditions. 

Article  I. 
We  grant  Leave  to  the  Englijh  Command- 
er to  retire  with  all  his  Garrifon,  and  to  re- 
turn peaceably  into  his  own  Country  ;  and 
promife  to  hinder  his  receiving  any  Infuit 
from  us  French;  and  to  retrain,  as  much 
fhall  be  in  our  Power,  the  Indians  that  arc 
with  us. 

II. 

It  {hall  be  permitted  him  to  go  out,  and 
carry  with  him  all  that  belongs  to  them,  ex- 
cept the  Artillery,  which  we  referve. 

III. 

That  we  will  allow  them  the  Honours  of 
War,  that  they  march  out  with  Drums  beat- 
ing, and  one  Swivel  Gun,  being  willing 
thereby  to  convince  them,  that  we  treat 
them   as  Friends. 


(     1 84     ) 

IV. 

That  as  foon  as  the  Articles  are  figned  by 
both  Parties,  the  Englifo  Colours  mall  be 
ftruck. 

V. 

That  To-rnorrow  at  Break  of  Day,  a 
Detachment  of  French  mail  go  and  make  the 
Garrifon  file  off,  and  take  Poffeffion  of  the 
Fort. 

VI. 

As  the  EngHJh  have  but  few  Oxen  or  Hor- 
fes  left,  they  are  at  Liberty  to  hide  their  Ef- 
fects, and  to  come  again  and  fearch  for 
them,  when  they  have  a  Number  of  Horfes 
fufficient  to  carry  them  of},  and  that  for  this 
End  they  may  have  what  Guards  they  pleafe  j 
on  Condition  that  they  give  their  Word  of 
Honour,  to  work  no  more  upon  any  Build- 
ings in  this  Place,  or  any  Part  on  this  Side 
the  Mountains. 

VII. 

And  as  the  EngliJJo  have  in  their  Power, 
one  Officer,  two  Cadets,  and  moft  of  the 
Prifoners  made  at  the  AfTaffination  of  M.  de 
Jumonville^  and  promife  to  fend  them  back> 
with  a  fafe  Guard  to  Fort  du  ^lefne,  fituate 
on  the  Ohio  ;  for  Surety  of  their  performing: 

this 


(     **'$     ) 

this  Article,  as  well  as  this  Treaty,  M.  Jacob 
VambrdMy  and  Robert  Stcbo,  both  Captains, 
mall  be  delivered  to  us  as  Hoftages,  till  the 
Arrival  of  our  French  and  Canadians  above 
mentioned.  We,  oblige  ourfelves  on  our 
Side  to  give  an  Efcorte  to  return  thefe  two 
Officers  in  Safety;  and  expedt  to  have  our 
French y  in  two  Months  and  a  Half,  at  far- 
theft.  A  Duplicate  of  this  being  fixed  upon 
one  of  the  Pofts  of  our  Blockade  the  Day 
and  Year  above  mentioned. 

Signed,  Meiirs.         James  Mackaye, 
G.  Washington, 

COULON, 

VlLLIERS. 

NUMB.    X. 

The  Translation  of  a  Letter  written  by 
Robert  Stobo,  at  Fort  du  Quefne,  who  was 
one  of  the  Hoflages  given  for  a  faithful  Per- 
formance of  the  Capitulation  granted  to  the 
Engliih  Troc p s  commanded  by  Major  Wafh- 
ington. 

July  the  28th,   1754. 
S  1  R, 

AN  Indian  called  Tufquerora  John,  brought 
here  a  Piece  of  News,  which  has  greatly 
alarmed  the  Indians  of  this  River  :  He  faith 
that  the  Half  King  Manaquehiha,  and  a  Chief 
A  a  of 


1  (     i86     ) 

of  the  Shawanefe,  &c.  to  the  Number  of 
Thirty-feven,  have  been  taken  by  the  Englijh* 
and  carried  away  as  Prifoners  ;  he  related  alio, 
that  "John  Mainot,  alias  James  Cork,  of  Mon- 
tour s  Company,  had  told  him,  that  the  Thir- 
ty-feven Indians,  were  t0  be  all  hanged,  as 
foon  as  they  had  reached  the  Englifo  Inha- 
bitants, and  advifed  him  to  make  his  Efcape. 
This  was  very  dexteroufly  reported  on  the 
Night  before  a  Grand  Council  which  was  held 
between  the  Shawaneje,  the  French,  and  the 
Indians  their  Allies.  The  French  made  them 
a  long  and  elegant  Speech,  telling  them  they 
did  not  come  here  to  War  'with  any  Body,  but 
that  the  Englijh  would  give  them  no  Peace; 
that  they  were  in  Hopes  the  Indians  their 
Children,  would  not  allow  their  Father,  to  be 
iniulted  in  his  old  Age  ,  that  neverthelefs,  if 
they  would  join  with  the  Englijh  y  they  might 
do  it  ;  but  if  they  would  take  Time  to  con- 
fider,  they  would  find  it  more  to  their  Inte- 
reft  to  remain  in  Peace*  :  This  is  all  I  could 
learn  from  this  Council.  The 

*  It  is  therefore  proved  by  the  Evidence  even 
of  an  Englishman,  the  mojl  exafperated  againjl 
jf£*  French,  that  theje  didnotjlir  up  ^Indians 
to  War,  This  Conducl  may  be  compared  with 
the  Crafts  andSubtilty  of  the  Englifh,  which  arefo 
well reprefented in  the  Journaloj  MWafhington. 


(     i  «7    ) 

The   French   accompanied   thefe   Speeches 
with    two   large  Beits,    and   two   Strings   of 
Wampum  ;  their  Allies  did  the  lame.     There 
were  alfo  confide rable  Prefents  made  ;  to  wit, 
fixteen    beautiful    Mufkets,    two   Barrels   of 
Gun-Powder,    Balls    in    Proportion,    fixteen 
very   beautiful  Suits  of  Cloaths,  many   others 
of  a  lefs  Value,  and  Blankets.     The  Shawa- 
nefe  made  no   Anfwer  at  that  Time,  neither 
do  I   hear  they  have  made  any  fince.     It  is 
affirmed    that   the  Half-King  and  his   Eand 
were  killed,  and  that  their  Wives  and  Chil- 
dren  were   delivered   up  to  the  Barbarity  of 
the  Cherokees  and  Catawbas^  who  are  Three 
Hundred  in  Number  at  the  New-Store.     Be 
it    fo    or   not,    the   Indians  are    very    much 
alarmed  thereat;  and    had    it   not   been   for 
this  News,  you    would  have   had    many    of 
the  different   Nations  in  your  Intereft.     If  it 
fhouid  be   true   (which  I  cannot  think)     no 
Dependence  can  be  put  upon  any  Indians  in 
thefe  Parts  ;  which  will  greatly  indanger  our 
Return  ;  but  this  is  not  to  be  confidered. 

The   Shawanefe,  Pickos,  and  De/awagos-f-, 

have    held   a  great  Council  together,  but   I 

A  a  2  know 

-j~  Indian  Nations.  The  Dclawagoes  may 
be  the  fame,  whom  Major  Wafhington  calls 
Delawares. 


(     i88     ) 

know  not  the  IfFue  of  it  :  I  have  perfwaded 
fome  of  them  to  go  to  you,  affuring  them 
they  would  be  well  received,  and  that  there 
was  at  the  New-Stcre,  very  beautiful  Pre- 
fents  for  the  Indians.  A  Prefent  made  in  a 
proper  Manner  at  this  Time,  might  be  of 
great  Service  to  us  :  If  a  Peace  could  be 
made  with  the  Catûwbas,  and  the  Cherokees, 
I  believe  every  Thing  would  fucceed  well. 
At  the  Battle  in  the  Meadows  (Fort  Neceffity) 
we  had  no  more  than  fix  or  feven  Indians, 
whom  we  called  ours  ;  I  believe  they  were 
Mingoes,  and  of  little  Efteem  in  that  Nation, 
in  particular,  one  who  was  called  Englifi 
John-,  he  is  of  the  Number  of  thofe  who 
were  look'd  upon  as  Spies.  I  heard  he  was 
to  go  and  fee  you  with  his  People  ;  I  would 
have  you  put  no  Confidence  in  them.  I  fend 
you  this  by  Monacotocchds  Brothe-r-in-Law, 
who  is  a  good  Subject,  and  may  be  trufted. 
On  the  other  Hand  you  will  fee  the  Plan 
of  the  Fort,  which  is  as  well  drawn,  as  the 
Time  and  Circumftances  would  permit  me. 
The  Garrifon  at  prefent,  contains  only  Two 
Hundred  Men,  all  Tradefmen  ;  the  reft, 
One  Thoufand  in  Number,  are  gone  in  diffe- 
rent Detachments.  Mr.  Mercier,  a  good 
Soldier,  is  to  leave  the  Fort  within  two  Days, 
then  there  will  be  only  Contrecoeur,  with  fome 

few 


(     i89    ) 

few  young  Officers  and  Cadets.  A  Lieute- 
nant  was  Tent  fome  Days  ago  with  Two  Hun- 
dred Men  to  get  Provifions  :  He  is  hourly 
expected;  and  at  his  Return  the  Garrifon 
will  contain  Four  Hundred  Men.  La  Force 
is  greatly  wanted  here  ;  no  more  Discoveries 
are  made  fince  his  Departure  ;  he  is  fo  much 
regretted  and  wifhed  for,  that  I  judge  he  was 
a  Man  of  no  fmall  Account.  When  we  en- 
tered into  our  Country's  Service,  it  was  ex- 
pected we  would  do  it  at  the  Expencc  of  our 
Lives  ;  therefore  let  not  People  be  deceived  ; 
confider  what  may  promote  the  Expedition, 
without  the  leaft  regard  for  us  ;  for  my  own 
Part  I  could  die  Ten  Thoufand  Deaths,  to 
have  the  Satisfaction  of  poffeffing  this  one 
Englijh  Fort  only.  The  French  are  fo  proud 
of  their  Succefs  in  the  Meadows,  that  I  had 
rather  die,  than  hear  them  fpeak  of  it.  Attack 
the  Fort  this  Fall  as  foon  as  poffibie  ;  gain 
the  hidians  to  your  Side,  in  a  Word,  do  the 
bell:  you  can,  and  you  will  fucceed.  One 
Hundred  Indians  who  can  be  depended  upon, 
are  capable  of  furprifing  the  Fort  -,  they  have 
Admittance  therein  every  Day  ;  they  can  con- 
ceal themfelves  fo  as  to  difpatch  the  Guard 
without  any  Difficulty  with  their  Tamkanko§  : 

Then 

§  This  Word  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  Dictionary  ; 

but  it  is  thought  Jo  be  cajje-tete.  Skull-breakers. 


(     190     ) 

Then  let  them  Shut  the  Door  faft,  and  the 
Fort  is  ours.  There  are  at  Night,  only  Qm- 
trecoeur  and  the  Guard  in  the  Fort,  who  ne- 
ver exceed  Fifty  Men  ;  all  the  others  Lodge 
without,  in  Cabins  that  are  round  it.  For 
God's  fake  fpeak  not  of  this  to  many  People, 
and  let  it  he  to  fuch  as  you  can  truft.  They 
certainly  have  Knowledge  here  of  every 
Thing,  and  fhouid  they  know  what  I  am 
writing,  the  leaft  that  could  befal  me,  would 
be  the  lofing  of  the  little  Liberty  I  have.  I 
would  look  upon  your  fending  me  News,  as 
the  higheft  Favour;  but  make  no  mention 
of  this  in  your  Letter.  I  befeech  you  to  pafs 
by  the  Faults  that  may  have  crept  in  this 
Letter,  which  is  not  in  the  beft  Order,  and 
believe  that  I  am,  &c. 

Signed,     Robert  Stobo. 
P.  S.    Shew  Kindnefs  to  this  Indian;  Shin- 
gas  and  Delaware  George  are  come  here. 

I  The  Subfcriber>  one  cf  the  Superior  Council 
of  Quebec,  do  certify  that  I  have  tranflated 
the  above  Letter  from  En'gliih  into  French,  the 
Original  being  depofited  in  the  Secretary  s-Ofjice 
of  the  Governor-General  of 'New -France.  Do?ie 
at  Quebec,  the  Thirtieth  of  September,  One 
T/joufand  Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty-five. 

Signed,     Perthuis. 

WE 


<     19'     ) 

WE  tfje  Governor-General,  and  Intendant 
of  New-France,  do  certify,  that  M. 
Perthuis,  one  of  the  Superior  Council  of  Que- 
bec, hath  tranjlated  the  above  Letter,  and  that 
we  have  heard  all  the  Englifh  People  who  have 
been  in  this  Town  fay  •  that  the  J aid  M.  Per- 
thuis could  both  fpe4k  and  tranflate  the  Englifli 
Tongue  perfectly  well.  Done  at  Quebec,  the 
Thirtieth  of  September,  One  Thoufand  Seven 
Hundred  and  Fifty-five. 

Signed,     Vaudreuil  and  Bigot. 

NUMB.  XL 
Instructions  given  to  General  Braddock  by 
His  Britannic  Ma/e/iy. 

GEORGE    R. 

INSTRUCTIONS  for  our  loyal  and  well 
beloved  Edward  Braddock,  Efquire, 
Major-Genera!  of  our  Armies,  whom  we 
have  appointed  General  and  Commander  of 
all  and  every  of  our  Troops  and  Forces  which 
are  actually  in  North-America,  or  may  be 
fent  there,  or  ievy'd  to  vindicate  our  juft  rights 
and  Pofleffions  on  that  Continent.  Given  at 
our  Court  at  St.  James's,  the  25th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1754,  and  of  our  Reign  the  28th. 

As 


(     *9*     ) 

As  by  our  Commiffion  dated  the  24th 
of  September  laft,  we  have  appointed  you 
General  and  Commander  of  all  and  every 
of  our  Forces,  which  are  or ,  fliall  be  here- 
after in  North-America. 

In  Order  to  enable  you  the  better 
to  anfwer  the  Truft  which  we  have  re- 
pofed  in  you,  we  have  thought  proper  to 
give   you  the  following  Inftrudlions. 

1  ft,  We  have  given  ourmoftferious  At- 
tention to  the  Reprefentations  of  our  Sub- 
jects in  North-America,  and,  to  the  prefent 
State  of  our  Colonies,  and,  in  order  to  pre- 
ferve  our  juft  Rights  and  PofTeffions  from 
all  Usurpations,  and  to  fecure  the  Commerce 
of  our  Subjects,  we  have  ordered  two  of 
our  Regiments  of  Foot,  which  are  now  in 
Ireland,  commanded  by  Sir  Peter  Halket 
and  Colonel  Dunbar,  forthwith  into  Ame- 
rica, and  that  a  fuitable  Train  of  Artillery 
be  alfo  fent  there,  as  aifo  Tranfport  Veffels 
with  Provifions,  under  a  Convoy  of  a  cer- 
tain Number  of  our  .  Ships  of  War. 

2d,  As  foon  as  you  have  received  our  pre- 
fent Inftruftions,  you  fliall  embark  in  one  of 
our  Veffels  of  War,  and  fliall  fet  Sail  for 
North-America,  where  you  fliall  take  the 
Command  of  our  Forces  5  and  as  we  have 

:    given 


(     J93     ) 

given  Augujtus  Kefpel  the  Charge  of  Com- 
manding the  Squadron  of  our  Ships  of  War 
in  the  Latitudes  of  America  >  we  require  of 
you,  and  enjoin  you  to  maintain  a  perfect  In- 
telligence and  Correfpondence  with  him  as 
long  as  you  are  employed  in  the  preient  Ser- 
vice, and  we  have  given  the  fame  Orders  to 
the  laid  Commander  of  our  Squadron,  as  to 
the  Conduct  and  Correfpondence  which  he 
is  to  keep  with  you. 

3d,  And  as  a  Number  of  Men  will  be 
wanting  to  ccmpleat  our  laid  Regiments, 
which  are  to  be  compofed  of  Five  Hundred 
to  Seven  Hundred  Men  each,  and  as  our  In- 
tentions are,  that  two  other  Regiments  of 
Foot  be  alio  raifed,  compofed  of  One  Thou- 
fand  Men  each,  which  fhall  be  commanded 
by  Governor  Shirley  and  Sir  William  Pepper  ell 
(whom  we  have  nominated  to  be  the  Colonels 
thereof)  we  have  given  Orders  that  the  Regi- 
ment under  the  Command  of  the  Former, 
fhall  have  its  Rendezvous  at  BoJlon>  and  that 
under  the  Command  of  the  Latter,  at  New- 
Tork  and  Philadelphia^  and  that  our  different 
Governors  fhall  take  proper  Meafures  before- 
hand to  contribute  as  much  as  they  poffibly 
can,  to  have  about  Three  Thou  (and  Men 
ready  to  enlifl  for  that  Purpole,  who  are  to 
B  b  be 


k     l9§     s 

be  distributed  by  you,  in  the  Bodies  afore- 
mentioned, proportionable  to  the  Recruits 
raiied  under  ygur  Command;  and  as  we  have 
thought  proper  to  detach  Sir  John  St.  Clair  y 
oar  Quarter-Mailer- General,  and  Jams  P et- 
cher,. Efq;  our  Commiffary,  to  Mufler  and 
Review  the  Troops  in  America,  in  order  to 
prepare  all  that  fhall  be  neceffary  for  the 
Arrival  of  the  two  Regiments  from  Europe, 
as  alfo  for  the  railing  of  the  Forces  above 
mentioned  >  you  fhall.,  immediately,  upon 
your  Arrival,  enquire  of  the  Governors  who 
are  nearefl  to  you,  and  of  all  the  Governors 
as  you  fhall  have  Opportunity,  as  alfo  of  the 
Quarter-Mailer- General  and  Commiffary, 
what  Progrefs  they  have  refpectiveiy  made  in 
the  Execution  of  our  Orders  above  mentioned, 
that  you  may  be  able  to  aéfc  accordingly. 

4th,  As  it  was  reprefented  to  us,  that  the 
Forces  from  Cork,  which  are  to  be  under  your 
Command,  might  want  Provisions  at  their 
Arrival  in  America,  we  have  caufed  to  be 
put  on  board,  &t\ 

5th,  As  we  have  given  Orders  to  our  faid 
Governors  to  provide  a  Quantity  of  frefh  Pro- 
vifions,  for  the  Mai  ntai  nance  of  the  Troops 
at  their  Arrival,  and  to  furnifh  our  Officers 
with  whatever  they  fhall  have  Occafion  for, 

whenever 


(     *9S     ) 

whenever  they  afre  obliged  to  go  from  one 
Place  to  another,  and  with  every  Thing  that 
wili  be  neceflary  for  them  on  their  March  by 
Land,  when  they  cannon  go  by  Sea,  to  obfervc 
likevvife  and  obey  all  Orders  that  iliall  be 
given  them  by  you,  or  by  thofe  whom  yau 
will  appoint  from  Time  to  Time,  to  Quarter 
the  Troops,  to  Pre  is  the  Transports,  and  to 
Provide  ail  that  fliali  be  neceflary  for  as  many 
Troops  as  fliali  arrive,  or  iliall  be  raifed  in 
America-,  and  as  thefe  different  Services  tha.'l 
be  executed  at  the  Expence  of  the  Govern- 
ments whereioever  they  are;  it  is  our  Will 
and  Pleafure,  for  the  due  Performance  of 
all  thefe  Articles,  that  you  apply  to  our  Faid 
Governors,  or  any  one  of  them,  fcs  the  Cafe 
will  require. 

6th,  And  as  we  have  furthermore  ordered 
our  faid  Governors  to  do  their  utrrioft  Endea- 
vours to  engage  mutually  the  Afîèmblies  of 
their  Provinces  fpeedily  to  raife  a  Sum,  as 
confiderable  as  they  cx\\  obtain,  by  way  of 
Contribution  to  a  common  Fund,  to  be  pro- 
vifionally  employed  for  the  general  Service  in 
America,  particularly  to  pay  the  Charges  of 
railing  the  Troops  that  are  to  be  made  Uk 
of  to  compleat  the  Regiments  above  men- 
tioned i  our  Will  is,  that  you  give  them  all 
B  b  2  the 


(     '96     ) 

the  Advice  and  Affiftance  you  can,  in  order 
to  accomplifh  thefe  advantageous  Projets,  in 
eftablifhing  fuch  a  common  Fund,  as  may  be 
fufficient  for  profecuting  the  Plan  of  that  Ser- 
vice which  we  prcpofe  to  you  *  ;  but  you  ihall 
be  particularly  careful  that  no  Money  be  given 
to  the  Troops  that  are  to  be  under  your  Com- 
mand, except  the  Payments  which  will  be 
made  on  Account  of  the  efTedive  Men  who 
ihall  be  fent  you. 

7th,  Having  thus  ordered  our  faid  Gover- 
nors to  correfpond  and  confer  with  you  con- 
cerning all  Matters  which  may  tend  to  accelerate 
the  faid  Levies  in  their  refpedive  Govern- 
ments; We  require  that  you  aid  and  affift 
them  in  the  Execution  of  our  Inftruâions  ; 
wherefore  you  fliall  not  only  entertain  a  con-f 
ftant  and  frequent  Correfpondence  with  them 
by  Letters,  but  mall  alfo  vifit  the  faid  Pro- 
vinces, or  fome  one  of  them,  if  you  think  it 
advantageous  to  our  Service  -,  and  you  mail 
put  our  faid  Governors  in  Remembrance  to 
ufe  all  poffible  Diligence,  that  the  Execution 
of  our  Projects  be  not  delayed  by  the  Slownefs 
of  the  Levies  which   are  to  be  made  in  their 

refpedive 

*  /;/  order  to  know  this  Plan,  fee  here** 
after  Colonel  NapierV  Letter. 


(     197     ) 

refpcdivc  Provinces,  or  by  the  Want  of 
Transports,  Provifions,  or  any  other  neceflary 
Thing,  at  whatever  Time,  or  in  whatever 
Place  you  may  judge  it  convenient  to  appoint 
for  their  general  Rendezvous. 

You  (hall  affemble,  in  order  to  be  an  Af- 
fiftance  to  you,  a  Council  of  War,  which  we 
have  thought  proper  to  appoint,  and  which 
fhall  conflit  and  (hall  be  compofed  of  yourfelf* 
of  the  Commander  in  Chief  of  our  VefTels, 
of  fuch  Governors  of  our  Colonies  or  Pro- 
vinces, and  of  fuch  Colonels  and  other  Land 
Officers,  as  fhall  be  at  a  convenient  Diftance 
from  our  faid  General  and  Commander  of  our 
Forces  ;  and  with  their  Advice,  or  the  Majo- 
rity of  them,  you  fhall  determine  all  the  Ope- 
rations which  are  to  be  executed  by  our  laid 
Troops  under  your  Orders,  and  every  other 
important  Point  which  may  have  any  Confor- 
mity thereto,  and  that,  in  the  Manner  that 
fhall  be  moll:  conducive  to  thofe  Ends  for 
which  the  faid  TrGQps  are  defined,  and  you 
fhall  anfwer  faithfully  to  that  Trull  which 
we  have  placed  in  you. 

8th,  You  fhall  not  only  maintain  the  mofl 
ntire  Harmony  and  Friendfhip  you  poffibly 
can  with  the  different  Governors  of  our  Co- 

Ionies  and  Provinces,  but  alfo  with  the  Chiefs 


(     198     J 

of  the  Inditm  Nations  >  and  for  the  better 
promoting  aired  ftrengthening  of  our  Corre- 
fpondence  with  thofe  Indian  Nations,  you 
(hall  endeavour  to  find  out  fome  proper  Per- 
fon  who  is  agreeable  to  the  Southern  Indian 
Nations,  and  fend  him  to  them  for  that  Pur- 
pofe,  in  the  fame  Manner  as  we  have  or- 
dered Coioneî  Job??fon>  to  viiit  the  Northern 
Nations,  as  being  the  Perfon  (we  believe) 
will  be  received  with  the  moft  Satisfaction  -, 
in  order  to  engage  them  to  take  Part,  and* 
to  aft  with  our  Forces  in  thofe  Operations 
which  you  think  the  moft  advantageous  and 
moft   expedient   to  undertake. 

9th,  You  fball  enquire  from  Time  to  Time 
into  the  Nature  and  Value  of  the  Cuftom- 
ary  Prefents  that  mail  be  granted  by  the 
Affemblies  of  our  different  Colonies  and 
Provinces^  to  invite  and  engage  the  Indian 
Nations  in  our  Intereft  and  in  our  Alliance  ; 
and  you  fbaîî  be  very  careful  that  a  juft 
and  faithful  Diftribution  thereof  be  made 
by  fuch  Perfons  as  fhali  be  charged  there- 
with, 

*  The  Orders  given  to  Colonel 'John foil  ivere 
long  bejore  this  InJlruBicri.  There/ore  the  Pro- 
jet? was  concerted  long  ago,  and  consequently 
the  Invafion  in  the  Country  Jituated  on  the  Ri* 
ver  Ohio,  entered  into  the  Plan  çfthat  ProjeB. 


(    *99    ; 

with,  and*  fliall  affift  thofe  Parlons,  giving 
them  your  beft  Advice  in  the  faid  Diftri- 
bution.  You  {hall  alio  give  particular  Atten- 
tion, that  thofe  Prefents,  on  all  Occafions, 
where-ever  they  fliaii  be  made,  be  prudent- 
ly difpofed  of;  as  alfo,  in  the  Cafes  wherein 
Lieutenant  Governor  Dinwiddle  is  concern- 
ed, with  regard  to  the  faid  Indians ,  on  Ac- 
count of  the  Sums  of  Money  which  are  al- 
ready   granted  in    his  Towns  or  eifewhere. 

loth,  As  it  has  been  represented  to  itfi 
that  the  French,  and  the  Inhabitants-j-  of  our 
different  Colonies,  keep  up  between  them  a 
Correfpondence  and  a  prohibited  Trade,  you 
{hall  diligently  take  all  ircceiTary  Meafures 
to  flop  the  Continuation  of  fuch  dangerous 
Practices  ;  and,  particularly,  that  no  Sort  of 
Pro vi Cons,  &c.  be  furnifhed  to  the  French, 
under    any   Pretence  whatsoever. 

We-  have  thought  it  a  Thing  proper 
in    the   prefent  Occafion,  to  fettle  the    rank 

which 

•f  The  King  ?f  England  acknowledge  s  here  the 
general  Law,  which  keeps  one  European  Colony 
from  going  to  trade  with  the  Indians  who  are 
feat  fend  on  the  Territories  cf  another  Colony.  It 
is  by  that  Law  that  the  French  had  been  autho- 
izedto  confiscate  the  Goods  of  thofe  Englifli  »£# 
came,  to  trade  on  the  Rher  Ohio. 


(       200       ) 

which  is  to  be  obferved  between  the  OftU 
cets  who  are  inveiled  with  cur  immediate 
Commiffions,  and  thofe  who  ferve  under 
the  Commiffions  of  our  Governors,  &c. 

1 2th,  You  will  receive,  here  annexed,  a 
Copy  of  the  ^Orders  which  we  lent  the 
28th  of  Angnji  1753,  to  our  different  Go- 
vernors, wherein  we  enjoin  and  exhort  our 
Colonies  and  Provinces  in  North- America, 
to  unite  together  for  their  common  and 
mutual  Defence v  you  will  alio  fee  by  our 
Orders  of  the  5th  of  July  (a  Copy  of  which 
is  a!fo  here  annexed)  our  reiterated  Orders, 
for  the  making  of  our  faid  Orders  of  the 
28th  of  Auguft  1753,  to  be  obferved  with 
more  Force-,  and  that  we  had  the  Good- 
nefs  to  order  the  Sum  of  "Ten  Thou] and Pounds 
to  be  fent  in  Specy  to  Governor  Dinwid- 
dle, and  to  permit  our  faid  "Lieutenant  Go- 
vernor, to  draw  for  another  Sum  of  ¥01 
Thoufand  Pounds,  on  the  Conditions  men-' 
tioned  in  our  Order  of  the  third  of  July  laft, 
and  fent  to  the  faid  Lieutenant  Governor 
Dinwiddle,  the  27th  of  September  following, 
for  that  Money  to  be  employed  to  the  ge- 
neral Service,  and  to  protect  North-Ameri- 
ca. And  the  feveral  other  Letters  of  the 
25th  and  26th  of  October,  and  of  the  4th 
ef  November )  to  our  Governors,  to  Sir  Wit* 

liamJ 


(   201    ) 

.   PeppereJI,  and  to  Colonel   Shirley     (Co- 
pies   of  which  ihall  be  delivered   to  you  with 
theft    Preients)     will  entirely    acquaint    you 
with    our    Orders     and    Imlructjons    which 
Lave   been    fignified    to  our   Governors  and 
Officers    on  that    Head;  which  will    enable 
you  to   enquire  how  they  have  been   execu- 
ted, and  .what  Advantages  they  have  produced. 
i"3*hj  You  fhall  not  tail  to  fend  us  by  the 
fir  ft,  and    by  all  the  Opportunities   that  may 
prefent  themfelves,  a  clear  and  particular  Ac-' 
count  of  your  Proceedings,  and  of  every  Thing 
that    fhall  be  effential  to  our  Service,  by  your 
etters  to  one  of  our  principle  Minifters   and 
Secretaries  of  State,  from    wliom  you    will 
receive  from   Time     to   Time    more  ample 
Orders,  which  will  be   of  ufe  to  you  for  your 
Conduct. 

> 
The  Snbfcriber,  one  of  the  Superior  Council 
of  Quebec,  do  certify  that  I  have  tr  an  fluted 
from  Englifh  into  French,  Word  for  IVord, 
île  Jnfîruéfions  from  the  King  of  Great-Britain 
3  General  Braddock,  the  Original  being  de<~ 
din  the  Secretary's  Office  of  the  Governor  ~ 
General  £/"  New-France,  done  at  Quebec,  the 

;:th  of  September,    One  Thoufand  £ 
Hundred  and  Fiftyfve, 

Signed  PERTHtfrS- 
Cc'  WE 


(     2qa     ) 

WE  the  Governor-GeneraL  and  Intendant 
of  New-France,  do  certify  that  M. 
Perthuis,  one  of  the  Superior  Council  of  'Que- 
bec, hath  tranjlated  from  Engiifh  into  French 
the  King  of  Great  Britain 's  InJiruBioris  to 
General  Braddock,  and  that  we  have  heard 
ell  the  Engiifh  People  who  have  been  in  this 
Town  fay,  that  M.  Perthuis  could  both  [peak 
and  tranfate  the  Engiifh  Tongue  perfectly  well. 
Quebec,  Thirtieth  of  September,  One  Thou- 
fand  Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty-five. 

Signed,  Vaudreuil  and  Bigot. 

A  Letter  written  by  Colonel  Napier,  and 
fent  to  General  Braddock,  by  Order  of  the 
Duke  of  Cumberland. 

London,  November  25,   1754. 


Sir 


HIS  Royal  Highnefs  the  Buke,  in  the 
feveral  Audiences  he  has  given  you, 
entered  into  a  particular  Explanation  of  every 
Part  of  the  Service  you  are  about  to  be  em- 
ployed in;  and  as  a  better  Rule  for  the  Exe- 
cution of  his  Majefiy  s  Inilructions,  he  lait 
Saturday  communicated  to  you  his  own  Sen- 
timents of  this   Affair,  and,   fmce  you  were 

defirous; 


(     203     ) 

defirous  of  forgetting  no  Part  thereof,  h< 
ordered  me  to  deliver  them  to  you  in  V\ 
His    Royal  Highnefs    has   this 
much  at  Heart,  as  it  is  of  the  highest  Impor- 
tance  to  his   M.-ijefly's   American  Domini* 
and    to  the  Honour  of  his   Troops  emplo) 
rj  thofe    Parts.     His   Royal   Highnefs  like- 
wife  takes  a  particular  Interest  in  it,  as  it  con- 
cerns you,  whom    he.  recommended    to  his 
Mijclty  to  be  nominated   to   the  chief  Com- 
mand. 

The  Opinion  of  his  Royal  Highneft  is» 
that  immediately  after  your  Land 
coniider  what  Artillery  and  other  imple- 
ments of  War  ir.  will  be  neceflary  to  trans- 
port to  Wills-Creek,  for  your  firft  Operation 
on  the  OhiO)  that  it  may  not  fail  you  in  the 
Service  -,  and  that  you  form  a  fécond  Field 
train,  with  good  Officers  and  Soldiers,  which 
(hall  be  fent  to  Albany^  and  be  ready  to 
arch  for  the  fécond  Operation  at  Niagara. 
ou  are  to  take  under  your  Command  as 
pnany  as  you  think  neceiBry  of  the  two 
ompanies  of  Artillery  that  arc  in  Nova- 
Scotia  and  Newfoundland  as  foon  as  the  Sea- 
bn  will  allow  ;  taking  Care  to  leave  enough 
o  defend  the  Iiland)  Captain  Ordy  a  veiy 
experienced  Officer,  oi  whom  flîs  Royal 
Ce  z  Highnefs 


i     (   «4    ) 

Highnefs  has  a  great  Opinion,  will  join-  you  ] 
as  ibon  as  poffible 

As  foon  as  Shirley  s  and  Fepperel!\  Regi- 
ments are  near  compleat,  his  Royal  High- 
nefs is  of  Opinion  you  fhould  cauie  them 
to  encamp,  not  only  that  they  may  the 
fooner  be  disciplined,  but  alfo  to  draw  the 
Attention  of  the  French,  and  keep  them  in 
Sufpence  about  the  Place  you  really  defign 
to  attack.  His  Royal  Highnefs  does  not 
doubt  that  the  Officers  and  Captains  of  the 
feveral  Companies  will  anlwer  his  Expecta- 
tion, in  Forming  and  Difciplining  their  refpec- 
tive   Troops. 

The  mod:  Uriel:  Difcipline  is  always  ne- 
ceffary,  but  more  particularly  fo  in  the  Ser- 
vice you  are  engaged  in,  wherefore  his  Royal 
Highnefs  recommends  to  you,  that  it  be 
conftantly  obferved  among  the  Troops  under 
your  Command,  and  to  be  particularly  care- 
ful that  they  be  not  thrown  into  a  Pannic 
by  the  Indians,  with  which  they  aie  yet  un- 
acquainted, whom  the  French  will  certainly 
employ  to  frighten  them.  His  Royal  High* 
nefs  recommends  to  you  the  Viiiting  your 
Ports  Night  and  Day,  that  your  Colonels 
and  other  Officers  be  careful  to  do  it,  anfl 
that   you  yourfelf  frequently  fet    them    th* 

Exampie; 


(    *w    ) 

Example,  and  give  all  your  Troops  plainly 
to  undcrftand,  that  no  Excuic  will  be  ad- 
mitted   for  any   Surprife    whatibever. 

Should  the  Ohio  Expedition  continue  anv 
con  (iderable  Time,  and  Pepperell's  and  Shir- 
Jey's  Regiments  be  found  iurrkient  ty  un- 
dertake in  the  mean  while  the  RcducYion 
of  Ni  agar  a  y  his  Royal  Highneis  would  have 
you  confider,  whether  you  could  go  there 
in  Perfon,  leaving  the  Command  of  the  Troops 
on  the  Ohio y  to  fome  Officer  on  whom  you 
might  depend,  unlefs  you  mall  think  it  bet- 
ter for  the  Service  to  fend  to  thofe  Troops 
fome  Perfon  whom  you  had  defigned  tc> 
command  on  the  Ohio ,  but  this  is  a  nice 
Affair,  and  claims  your  particular  Attention, 
as  Colonel  Shirley  h  the  next  Com: 
after  you;  wherefore  if  you  mould  fend  fuch 
an  Officer,  he  muff  conduit  himfelf  fo,  as 
to  appear  only  in  Quality  of  a  Friend  or 
Counsellor  in  the  Preience  of  Colonel  Stir» 
ley ,  arnd  his  Royal  Highneis  is  of  Opinion, 
that  that  Officer  muff  not  produce,  or  make 
mention  of  the  Commilnon  you  give  him. 
for  Command,  except  in  fuch  Cafe  of  ab- 
folute  Neceffity. 

The    Ordering   of  the/e   Matters  may  be 
depended  on,  if  the    Expedition   at  Crown- 
Point 


(     2o6     ) 

Point  can    take  Place,  at  the  fame  Time  that 
Niagara   is  befieged. 

If  after  the  Ohio  Expedition  is  ended,  it 
fhould  be  neceiTary  for  you  to  go  with  your 
whole  Farce  to  Niagara,  it  is  the  Opi- 
nion of  his  Royal  High  nefs,  that  you  fhould 
carefully  endeavour  to  find  out  a  fhorfer 
Way  from  the  Ohio  thither,  than  that  of  the 
Lake,  which  however  you  are  not  to  at- 
tempt under  any  Pretence  whatfoever,  with- 
out a  moral  Certainty  of  being  fupplied  with 
Provifions,  &c. 

As  to  your  Defign  of  making  your/elf 
'Matter  of  Niagara,  which  is  of  the  great- 
er!: Confequence,  his  Royal  High  nefs  recom- 
mends to  you,  to  leave  nothing  to  Chance, 
in  the   Profecutioii  of  that  Enterprize. 

With  Regard  to  the  reducing  of  Crown- 
Point,  the  Provincial  Troops  being  beft  ac- 
quainted with  the  Country,  will  be  of 
the  moft  Service.  After  the  taking  of  this 
Fort,  his  Royal  Highnefs  advifes  you  to  con- 
fult  with  the  Governors  of  the  Neighbour- 
ing Provinces,  where  it  'will  be  moft  pro- 
per to  build  a  Fort  to  cover  the  Fron- 
tiers  of  thofe  ProvincexS, 

As   to   the  Forts  which  you   think  ought 
to  be    built    (and  of  which  they   are  per- 
haps 


(       207       ) 

haps  too  fond  in  that  Country)  his  Royal 
High  nefs  recommends  the  building  of  them 
in  fuch  a  Manner,  that  they  may  not  re- 
quire a  ftrong  Garrifon.  He  is  of  Opinion 
that  you  ought  not  to  build  ccnfiderable 
Forts  caied  whh  Stone,  before  the  Pians  and 
Eftimate  thereof  have  been  fent  to  England^ 
and  approved  here  by  the  Government.  His 
Royal  Highnefs  thinks,  that  Stockaded  Forts 
with  Pallifadoes,  and  a  good  Ditch,  capa- 
ble «of  containing  Two  Hundred  Men,  or 
400  upon  an  Emergency,  will  be  fufficient 
for   the    Preient. 

As'  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lawrence ',  who 
commands  at  Nova-Scotta,  hath  long  pro- 
jected the  taking  of  Becx-frjour,  his  Roy- 
al Highnefs  advifes  you  to  confult  with  him, 
both  with  regard  to  the  Time,  and  the  Man- 
ner of  executing  that  Defign.  In  this  Enter- 
prize,  his  Royal  Highnefs  forefees  that  his 
Majefty's  Ships  may  be  of  great  Service,  as 
well  by  tranfporting  the  Troops  and  War- 
like Implements,  as  intercepting  the  Stores 
and  Succours  that  might  be  lent  to  the  French, 
either  by  the  Bay  Fraizeoife,  or  from  Cape 
Breton^  to  the  Bûy  Ferte,  on  die  çther  Side 
of  the  Ijihmus. 

With 


#  0 


(     ?o8     ) 

With    Regard   to   your    Winter  Quarters,  < 
after  the   Operations   of  the    Campaign    arc 
finilhéd,  his  Royal  Highneis  recommends  it 
to  you  to  examine  whether  the  French  will 
not  endeavour  to  make  fome  Attempts  next 
Sealbn,  and  in  what  Parts  they  will  moil  pro- 
bably make  them.     In  this  Cafe  rt  will  be 
meft  proper  to  canton    your  Troops  on  that 
Side  at  fuch  Diftanccs,    that  they  may  eafily 
be  aiTembled  for  the  common  Defence,     But 
you  will   be  determined   in  this    Matter  by 
Appearances,    and  the  Intelligence  which  it 
haul  been  recommended  to   you  to   procure 
by   every   Method    immediately    after    your 
Landing.     It   is   unnece.ffary   to   put  you    in 
Mind,  how  careful  you  muft  be  to  prevent 
being  furprized.     His  Royal  Highneis   ima- 
gines that  your  greater!  Difficulty  will  be,  the 
Subiifting   of    your  Troops  :     He   therefore 
recommends    it   to  you,    to  give  your  chief 
Attention  to  this  Matter,  ancf  to  take   proper 
Meafures   relative    thereto  with    the   Gover- 
nors,   and    with    the    Quarter-Mafters    and 
Commiflaries.     I  hope  that  the  extraordinary 
Supply    put   on    board    the    Fleet,  and    the 
Thoufand  Barrels  of  Beef  deftined  for  vour 
Ufe,  will  facilitate  and  fecure  the  Supplying 
of  your  Troops  with  Provifions. 

I  think 


(     2°9     ) 

I  think  I  have  omitted  nothing  of  all  the 
Points  wherein  you  deiircd  to  be  informed; 
if  there  mould  yet  be  any  intricate  Point  un- 
thought  of,  I  délire  you  would  reprefent  it  t«> 
me  now,  or  at  any  other  Time  ;  and  I  fhall 
readily  take  it  upon  me  to  acquaint  his  Royal 
Highnefs  thereof,  and  fhall  let  you  know  his 
Opinion  on  the  Subject. 

I  wifh  you  much  Succefs  with  all  my 
Heart;  and  as  this  Succefs  will  infinitely  re- 
joice all  your  Friends,  I  defire  you  would 
be  fully  perfwaded  that  no  Body  will  take 
greater  Pleafure  in  acquainting  them  thereof, 
than  him,  who  is,  &c. 

Signed,     Robert  Napier. 

I  The  Subfcriber,  one  of  the  Superior  Council 
of  Quebec,  do  certify  that  I  have  tra?ijlated 
the  above  Letter,  Word  for  Word,  from  Englifh 
into  French,  the  Original  being  depofted  in  the 
Secretary  s-Office  of  the  Governor -General  of 
New-France.  Done  at  Quebec,  the  Thirtieth 
of  September,  OneThoufand  Seven  Hundred  and 
Fifty  five, 

Signed,     Perthuis. 
D  d  WE 


(       210       ) 

WE  the  Gpvernor-General,  and  Intendant 
of  New-France,  do  certify,  that  M. 
Perthuis,*  one  of  the  Superior  Council  of  Que- 
bec, hath  tra?ifilated  the  above  Letter \  and  that 
we  have  heard  all  the  Englifh  People  who  have 
been  in  this  7 "own  fay  °,  that  the  f aid  M.  Per- 
thuis  could  both  (peak  and  tranflate  the  Englifh 
'Tongue  perfectly  well.  Done  at  Quebec,  the 
Thirtieth  of  September,  One  Thoufand  Seven 
Hundred  a?id  Fifty -five. 

Signed,     Vaudreuil  and  Bigot. 

'NUMB.    XIIL 
The  Translation  of  a  Regi/ler  of  Letters 
written  by  General  Brad  dock,  to  the  fever al 
Minifers  and  Englifh  Lords. 

-     LETTER    L 
To  Henry  Fox,  Ef quire,  Secretary  of  Ware 

Williamfhiirg,  Feb.  24,    1755. 

AFTER  a  Paffage  of  feven  Weeks, 
wherein  I  had  Abundance  of  bad 
Weather,  I  arrived  here,  where  I  found  every 
Thing  in  great  Confufion,  as  I  expefted  ;  a 
great  deal  of  Money  has  already  been  fpent 
here,  though  but  very  little  done.  Sir  John 
St.  Clair  is  juft  now  come  here  ;  I  refer  you 

to 


(  «I  ) 

to  his  Letters,  they  will  acquaint  you  of  the 
bad  State  of  the  Indépendant  Companies  of 
New-Tork ,  as  I  am  but  lately  come,  I  can 
give  you  no  News  thereof  my  felf.  The 
Governor  of  this  Place  is  of  Opinion,  that 
the  People  of  this  Province  are  fully  convin- 
ced of  the  Neceffity  there  is  for  them  to 
give  all  the  Affiftance  in  their  Power,  in  an 
Affair  which  fo  nearly  concerns  them.  Go- 
vernor Dobbs  is  well  enough  pleafed  with  the 
People  of  his  Province,  and  hopes  he  will  be 
more  fo  hereafter.  Pennfyhania  will  do  no- 
thing, and  furnilheth  the  French  with  what- 
ever they  have  Occafion  for.  I  mall  execute 
your  Orders  punctually,  and  with  as  much 
Speed  as  poffible.  I  was  obliged  to  appoint 
a  Commiflary  for  about  a  Fortnight.  I  mail 
have  Occafion  to  write  to  you,  and  mail  ac- 
quaint you  of  thofe  Particulars  which  I  (hall 
think  rnoft  interesting.  I  am  with  the  meft 
profound  Refpecl:,  Sir,  &c. 

LETTER    II. 

To  Colonel  Napier  Aid-de-Camp. 

Williamjburg,  Feb.  24,    1755. 

AFTER  having  parted  through  all   the 
Dangers   of  the   Seas,  from   which   I 
have  cfcaped,  I  arrived  hero  the  20th  of  this 
D  d  2  Month 


(    2I2     ) 

Month.  The  Governor  allures  me,  that  the 
People  are  like  to  be  more  tradable,  and  that 
they  fee  the  Neceffity  there  is  of  providing 
for  me  all  the  Succours  which  they  muft  be 
obliged  to  furnifh,  in  an  Enterprize  that  par- 
ticularly regards  themfelvcs. 

So  little  Order  or  Union  has  reigned  among 
them  hitherto,  that  much  Time  has  been 
fpent  to  little  Purpofe.  Sir  "John  St.  Clair  is 
this  Moment  arrived.  He  is  indefatigable, 
and  lias  done  all  that  could  poffibiy  be  ex- 
oecled  ;  you  will  fee  by  his  Letters  (to  which 
I  refer  you)  the  prefent  State  of  Affairs,  and 
the  bad  Condition  of  our  Troops  in  this 
Country,  particularly  of  the  unworthy  Inde- 
pendent Companies  of  New-Fork.  PennfyU 
vania,  the  richeft  and  moft  populous  of  all 
thefe  Provinces  will  do  nothing,  and  furniih- 
eth  the  French  with  ■  Provisions  ;  the  Six  Na- 
tions are  at  prefent  attached  to  the  French. 
I  have  as  yet  but  four  Twelve  Pounders, 
which  will  not  have  a  great  Effect  fhould  I 
be  obliged  to  make  a  Breach  5  but  as  I  can- 
not do  without  them,  I  will  endeavour  to  get 
fome  Cannon  from  on  board  the  Men  of 
War.  We  have  made  no  Preparations  as 
yet    for  the  Transports,     My  moft  humble 

Refpeds 


(     2i3      ) 

RefpecU    and    Duty    to    his    Royal     High- 
nefs. 

I  am,  my  Dear  Colonel, 

Tour  moji  bumble,  ËV, 

LETTER    III. 

To  Sir  Thomas Robinfon,   bis  Majejly's  prin- 
cipal Secretary  of  St  aie. 

Williamjbiirg,  March  18,  1755. 
S  1  R, 

I   Arrived  here  the  20th  o£  February.     The 
Gibraltar  having  failed   two   Days  after, 
I  could  not  give  you  an  Account  by  her,   cf 
the  Preparations  which  are  made  in  the  Pro- 
vinces for  the  Service  of  our  Expedition,  nor 
of  the  Meafures  I  mud  take  for  its  Succefs. 
Immediately  after  my  Arrival,  I  wrote  with 
11   Diligence,  to  the  different  Governors  of 
this  Continent,  to  engage   them  to  do  their 
Jtmoft  in  their  refpeclive  Provinces,  to  obtain 
evies  of  Men  and  Money,  agreeable  to  his 
Vlajefty's     Inftruclions  ;  •  recommending    to 
hem  to  ihut  up  their  Ports  that  no  Provisions 
may  be  carried  from  us  to  the  Enemy  ;  which 
Sovernor  Dinwiddle   obferv'd  and    executed 
n  this  Province,     I  have  alfo,  by  his  Majefty's 
orders,  recommended  the  Eftablifhing  a  corn- 
lion  Fund  with  the  Money  granted  by  the 

different 


(       214      ) 

different  Colonies,  which  fhould  ferve  as  a 
capital  Stock   to  defray  the  Expence  of  the 
general  Service  of  our  Expedition,  and  which 
might  be  fubject  to  my  Orders,  offering  to  be 
accountable  to  each  of  the  Provinces  for  what 
Purpofe  it  fhould  be  employed,  whether  for 
fecuring  the  moil  effectual  Means  of  facilitating 
the  Service  in  which  I   am  engaged,  or  for 
taking  the   Steps  moft  conducive  to  its  Suc- 
cefs.     The  Jealoufy  of  the  People,  and  the 
Difunion   of   the   Colonies    as  well  of    all 
|     in  general,  as   of  each  in  particular,  makes 
\    me  almoft  defpair.     Indeed  I  am  very  forry 
\  to  tell  you,  that  according  to  all  Appearance, 
\  I  fhall   have  much  Difficulty  to  obtain  from 
Jthefe  Colonies  the   Succours  his  Majefly  ex-?' 
?ped:s,  and  the  common  Intereft  requires. 
i    The  different  Governors   of  the  Provinces 
lof  this  Continent  will  inform  you  no  Doubt, 
What  each  of  them  have  already  done  towards 
^this  Expedition,  and  what  they   intend  to  do 
for  the  Time  to  come.    "All  that  I  can  tell > 
you    upon    this    Subject,   at    prefent,  is,  that 
f  Governor   Dinwiddie    has   already    obtained 
from   his   Province,  Twenty  Thoufand  Pounds 
Currency,  and  hopes  to  obtain  a  greatçr  Sumj 
from  the   Affembly,  which  is  prorogued  for 
that  Purpofe  to  the  firft  of  May  next.     North- 
Carolina  granted  Eight  Thoufand,  and  Mary- 
land 


(  *«J  > 

land  Six  Thoufaud  Pounds,  each  the  Current 
Money  of  their  refpedfcive  Provinces.  Penn- 
sylvania without  Contradiction  the  richeft 
Province,  and  whofe  Intereft  is,  above  all, 
concerned  in  the  Event  of  this  Expedition, 
h  yet  granted  nothing  :  Therefore  I  wrote 
a  (harp  Letter  to  the  Governor,  which 

}     is  to  communicate  to*  the  AfTembly  of  that 
w j  if  he  thinks  proper,  to  bring  them 
to  th  it  Duty. 

Copy  of  which  I  fend  you. 
I  do  not  Doubt  but  Governor  Shirley  has 
acquainted  you  of  the  Progrefs  made  in  rai- 
ling the  America?i  Regiments; by  the  Accounts 
given  me  of  his,  I  believe  it  is  almoft  corn- 
pleated,  but  I  can  give  no  Account  of  Sir 
William  Pepper  ell's.  I  have  taken  Meafurcs 
with  Mr.  Keppel  for  fending  over  Arms  and 
Cloathing  for  each  Regiment  with  all  poffible 
Diligence.  All  the  Tranfport  Veffels  are  ar- 
rived, except  the  Severn,  which  has  on  board 
a  Company  of  Sir  Peter  Halket\,  and  is  daily 
expected.  None  of  my  Men  have  been  yet 
fick.  Inftead  of  cantoning  my  Troops  as  I 
at  firfr.  intended,  according  to  the  Account 
which  Sir  John  St.  Clair  had  given  in  Eng- 
land concerning  them  ;  the  Wind  being  fa- 
vourable, and  not   imagining  any   Danger,  I 

have 


(     2  ré     ) 

have  given  Orders  to  the  Tranfport  Ve/Tcls  to 
fail  up  the  River  Potowmack,  to  proceed  to 
Alexandria,  and  land  them  where  I  defigii 
to  encamp. 

All  the  Levies  of  Virginia  and  Maryland 
are  aifo  to  join  me  at  Alexandria,  I  fhall 
take  the  beft  Men  to  augment  the  Englij1} 
Regiments  to  Seven  Hundred  each,  and  em-r 
ploy  the  others  as  it  was  agreed  with  Go- 
vernor Dinwiddie,  which  is  in  the  following 
Manner,  viz.  to  form  two  Companies  of 
Carpenters,  compofed  each  of  one  Captain, 
two  Subalterns,  two  Serjeants,  and  thirty 
Men  ;  the  firft  of  which  will  be  abfoluteiy 
necefiary  to  make  Roads,  build  Boats,  and 
repair  the  Carriages,  &c.  I  (hail  employ  the 
refidue  of  the  new  raifed  Men,  to  cover  the 
main  Body  of  the  Army,  and  fhelter  it  from 
all  Manner  of  Surprize.  Thole  Companies 
ihall  be  paid  by  the  Province,  and  be  upon 
the  fame  Terms  with  thofe  of  Old-England, 
the  Difference  only  of  the  Money,  which  is 
«bout  Twenty-five  per  Cent.  I  have  alfo 
raifed  a  Company  of  Guides,  compofed  of 
one  Captain,  two  Aid-de-Camps,  and  ten 
Men ,  I  have  fixed  Pofts,  in  order  to  go 
-from  the  Head-Quarters  to  Philadelphia, 
to  Annapolis  in  Maryland,  and    to   William* 

Jburgi  i 


(     **7     ) 

Jburg,  as  I  think  it  necefTary  to  keep  a  Ôorre- 
fpondence  with  the  Governors  of  thefe  Pro- 
vinces. 

As   foon  as    I    can   poffibly  aflemble   my 
Troops,  lay  up  Forage,  Provifions   and  other 
Things  necefTary  for  a  March,  I  fhall  proceed 
to  Work  at  the  reduction  of  the  Frcmb  Forts 
upon  the  Ohio.     It  is  very  uncertain  whether 
I  fhall  find  Grafs  beyond  the  Allegany  Moun~ 
tains    before  the  End  of  Aprils  which  is  the 
Time  I  expect  to  get  there.     I  cannot  as  yet 
give  a  juft  Account  of  the  Number  of  Troops 
which  I  fhall  have  with  me.     If  I  can  corn- 
pleat  the  Englijh  regiments  to   a   Thou  fan  d 
Four  Hundred  Men,  the  Companies  of  Car- 
penters    and   Scouts   to  the   Number  above 
mentioned,    with  the   very  ineffective  Indé- 
pendant Companies  of  New-Totk,  and    thofe 
of  Carolina,  I  believe  the  whole  will  not  ex- 
ceed  Two  Thoufand  Three  Hundred  Men  ï 
I  was  propofing  to  augment  them  by  Means 
of  the  Provincial  Troops,  to  the  Number  of 
Three   Thoufand,  but   I  have   deferred    that 
Augmentation,  until  my  Interview  with  Go- 
vernor   Shirley,    which    I    thought  necefTary, 
and  therefore  have  ordered  him  to  meet  me  at 
Annapolis    in  Maryland,  where  I  expect:  hirri 
in  about  three  Weeks.  * 

E  e  Governor 


(     ai»     ) 

Governor  Dinwiddie  propofes  to  accom- 
pany me  thither  ;  I  hav£  ordered  thofe  of 
Nevv-Tork  and  Pennsylvania  to  meet  mc 
there,  if  the  Affairs  of  their  Provinces  will 
permit  them.  At  this  Interview,  where  alfo 
Commodore  Keppel  is  to  meet  me,  I  defign 
to  fettle  the  Operations  that  fhall  be  deter- 
mined for  the  Northern  Parts,  and  concert 
the  moll  ufeful  Methods  for  recovering  the 
Indian  Frontiers  adjoining  the  different  Colo- 
nies, and  for  fecuring  them  to  his  Majefty, 
and  at  the  fame  Time,  to  excite  the  Gover- 
nors to  ufe  their  utmoft  Credit  for  the  King's. 
Service,  in  this  important  Affair.  I  {hall 
make  Ufe  of  the  firft  Opportunity  to  let  you 
know  whatever  fhall  be  determined.  I  can-^ 
not  eafily  tell  you  what  Number  of  Forces 
the  Fre?îch  have  on  the  river  Ohio  ;  but  if  we 
might  regard  the  different  Accounts  we  have 
had  of  them,  they  are  above  Three  Thoufand, 
the  greateft  Part  of  which  are  Indians,  It  is 
generally  thought  that  all  the  Iroquois  or  In- 
dians of  the  Six  Nations  are  in  the  French 
Intereft,  except  the  Ariies*^  Governor  Din- 
widdie  hopes  that  the  Latter  will  join  us,  to- 
gether with  the  Catawhas   (a  warlike  Nation, 

though 

*  Theff  an  the  Mohawks, 


(     2I9     ) 

though  few  ia  Number)  and  fome  Ckerokees  ; 
ail  the  other  Nations  to  the  South  feem  at 
prefent  attached  to  the  Trench  ;  but  as  wc 
ought  to  attribute  their  Attachment  to  the 
Succeffes  they  have  lately  had  over  us,  we 
may  flatter  ourfelves  that  the  Sight  of  our 
Army,  or  the  leaft  Advantage  we  fhall  gain 
over  them,  may  occaiion  a  great  Change  in 
their  Difpofitions. 

I  fend  you  inclofed,  the  Extraft  of  a  Let- 
ter from  the  Commanding  Officer  at  Chou- 
aguen  to  Governor  Dinwiddie-f,  which  proves 
the  monftrous  Fahhoods  and  Ablurdities 
the  French  make  uie  of  to  impofe 
upon  the  Indians >  and  bring  them  to  their 
Intereft. 

Mr.  De/ancy,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Neiv- 
Torky  propofes  to  me  in  his  Letters,  to  em- 
ploy the  Money  which  is  to  be  raifed  in 
his  Government  (deftined  for  the  prefent 
Expedition)  to  build  Forts  for  the  particular 
Defence  of  his  own  Province;  as  this  I 
pofal  feems  to  me  at  prefent,  altogether  < 
of  Seafon,  I  have  obferved  to  him  «that  all 
E  e  2  the 

•f-  This  Letter  proves  at  large,  'that  the  ComT 
mandant  of  Choua^uen  accufes  the  French 
ef  1  "aljkood. 


(       220       ) 

the  Affiftance  which  the  Colonies  can  give 
ç ould  not  be  better  employed  than  in  the 
prefent   Expedition. 

Governor   'Dinwiddle  obferves  to  me,   that 
Mr.    Delancy    has    confented    to.  a  Neutral ty' 
between  the   Inhabitants  of  Albany ,  and  the 
Neighbouring  Indians   who  are  in    Alliance 
with  the    French.     I  dont  fee  what  Reafon  he 
had  to  fuffer   a  'Thing  fo   extraordinaryX,  but 
that  feems  to    be   productive    of  fuch   great 
Confequences3  that  I  propofe  to  tell  him  my 
Sentiments   of  it,  in    the    ftrongeft  Terms: 
I  find  my   felf  very   happy  in   being  joined 
Jn   the  Service   of  his   Majefty  by  an  Officer 
fo  capable   and    fo    difpofed  to   take  ail  the 
Meafures  w7hich    may  concur   with  the  Suc- 
cefs  of  this  Enterprize  as  Mr.  Keppel  is.    As  I 
Jiave   but  four  Pieces  of  Cannon  of  Twelve 
Pounders    with  'the    Train,    and    I  thought 
it    neceffary   to    have   a  greater  Number  of 
them,    I     addreffed   myfelf   to  him,    to  get 
four    more  from    on   Board   his  Ships,    with 
fieceflary  Ammunition,     which    he    granted 
with  the  beft  Grace  in-  the  World,  as  well 

a$ 

X  What  it  was  then  extraordinary  that  the 
Inhabitants  ef  Albany  could  not  believe  that 
they  were  at  War  with  the  French  and  thç 
Indians  their  Allies^ 


(  **t   ) 

ao  a  great  many  other  Things  which  I 
wanted  ;  he  likewife  gave  me  Thirty  Sailors» 
with  proper  Officers  to  command  them, 
to  attend  the  Army  in  its  March;  they 
will  be  very  ferviceable  for  Building  the  Bat- 
toes,  to  help  us  in  transporting  Artillery 
and  other  heavy  Baggage:  For  their  Sub- 
fiftance  I  have  fettled  their  Pay  with  the 
Commodore,  at  Three  Shillings  and  Six-pence 
per  Day  for  the  Officers,  and  Six-pence  for 
the  Sailors,  for  which  I  ffiall  be  obliged 
to  draw  upon  the  Quota  furnifhed  by  the 
Provinces. 

As  I  do  not  find  that  the  Provifions  granted 
by  the  Provinces  for  the  Subfiftance  of  our 
Troops  will  be  Sufficient,  I  fhail  be  obliged 
to  take  a  Thoufand  Barrels  of  Beef,  and 
Ten  Cafks  of  Butter  out  of  the  Supply  of 
Provifions  fent  from  "England.  Sir,  the  Juf- 
tice  which  I  am  obliged  to  do  Governor 
Dinwiddle  will  not  permit  me  to  finiih 
this  Letter  without  acquainting  you  of  the 
Zeal  he  has  fhown,  and  the  Pains  he  has  ta- 
ken, upon  all  Occafions,  for  the  Good  of 
the  Service  of  this  Caufe  5  when  I  con- 
sider the  Faction  that  prevailed  over  him  in 
his  Government,  I  find  he  has  Succeeded  be- 
yond a!!  Expectation, 

1 


(       222       ) 

I  have  Orders  from  his  Majcfty  to  put  til 
the  French  that  Jhall  be  taken  in  this  Expe- 
diting on  Beard  Commodore  Keppel  to  be 
conduBed  to  France  ;  but  as  Mr.  Keppel  has 
had  no  Orders  from  the  Admiralty  upon  that 
Subject,  and  it  feems  to  him  too  delicate  an 
Affair  to  act  without  Orders,  I  am  obliged  up- 
on this  Occafion  to  requeft  his  Majefty  for  fur- 
ther  Inftruâions  as  foon  as  poffible. 

The  Severn  is  juft  arrived. 
/  am,  &c. 

LETTER     IV. 
Written  to  the  Governor  of  'Pennfylvania. 

Alexandria  in   Virginia,  April   15,  1755. 

Sin, 

I  Am  informed,  that  there  is  a  great  Num- 
ber of  Indians  in  your  Province  from 
the  River  Ohioy  who  have  been  driven 
from  thence  by  the  French.  I  defire  you 
to  let  them  know  that  I  am  upon  a  March 
with  a  Body  of  the  King's  Troops  to  take 
by  Force  from  tht  French  thofe  Ufurpations. 
which  they  have  made  upon  that  Kiver, 
there  to  reinitiate  the  Indians  our  Allies, 
and  defend  them  againft  their  Enemy.  As 
thefe  Indians  muft    have  a  perfect   Know- 

ledgq 


(     **3     ) 

ledge  of  that  Country,  and  might  be  of  ve- 
ry gregt  Ufe  during  the  whole  Courfe  of 
this  Expedition,  I  pray  you  would  engage- 
them  to  come  with  their  Chiefs  to  join 
me  at  Wills-Creek^  and  afllire  them,  that 
they  fhall  be  kindly  treated,  and  want  no- 
thing that  (hall  be  neceflary  for  them.  >  Pray 
acquaint  me  with  what  you  have  determined 
in  this  Affair,  and  alfowhat  Number  of  Indians 
will  come  tome  from  your  Province:  I  hope 
your  Province  will  take  Care  to  maintain 
the  Wives  and  Children  of  thefe  People 
until  their  return  :  They  would  be  a  great 
Incumbrance,  if  they  fhould  come  to  the 
Camp. 

LETTER.    V. 

To    the    Honourable    Thomas    Robinfon,  one 
of  his  Majeflys  Secretaries   of  State. 

Alexandria,   1 9 th  of  April,   1755. 

I  Have  had  the  Honour    to  write    to  you 
from  Williamjburgh  the    18th   of  March 
iaft,  by  a  Veffel  which  was   to    fail  in  eight 
JDays  after. 

The  13th  of  this  Month  Governor  Shir- 
ley  accompanied  with  the  other  Governors, 
of'  whom  I  made  mention  in  my  laft,  came 
to   nae  here,  along  with  Colonel  fchnfon. 

At 


(     224     ) 

At  this  Interview*  Mr.  Shirley  laid  be- 
fore me  a  Plan,  formed  between  him  and 
Governor  Lawrence  (of  which  he  told  me  he 
had  acquainted  you)  for  befieging  the  French 
Forts  in  Acadia  :  As  I  had  given  an  en- 
tire Approbation  to  it,  I  fent  Orders  to  Colo- 
nel Monckton  immediately  to  take  upon  him 
the  Command,  and  go  upon  that  Expedi- 
tion without   Delay. 

I  have  alfo  agreed  with  him  upon  a  Plan 
for  the  the  R-eduftion  of  Fort  St.  Frede- 
rick\,  which  is  to  be  executed  only  by  the 
Provincial  Troops  raifed  in  the  Northern 
Colonies,  about  the  Number  of  Four  Thou-* 
fand  Four  Hundred,  under  the  Command  of 
Colonel  John/on,  a  Perfon  recommended  for 
the  great  Influence  he  has  over  the  Minds 
and  Humours  of  the  Indians  of  the  SixÀ 
Nations,  and  for  the  Reputation  he  hath  in 
all  the   Northern  Colonies. 

As  that  of  Niagara,  is  the  moft  important 
of  all  our  Enterprizes,  I  have  propofed  td 
Mr.  Shirley  to  take  that  Commiffion  up- 
on himfelf,  which  he  readily  did.  I  there- 
fore ordered  him  to  take  under  his  Com- 
mand his  own  Regiment,  which  muft  b< 
compleated,  and  that  of  Pepperelh>  fuch  al 


«f-  Pointe  à  la  Chevelure. 


(     2*5     ) 

it  is  to  prepare  for  that  Expedition  with  all 
pofiible  Diligence.  I  formerly  gave  Orders 
for  reinforcing  the  Garrifon  of  Chouoguen  with 
two  Companies  of  Peppcrclh,  and  with  the 
two  Indépendant  Companies  of  New-TTork  ; 
this  I  thought  a  neceflary  Step  for  putting 
the  Works  in  fuch  a  Condition,  as  might 
preferve  the  Garrifon3  and  fecure  a  Retreat 
for  our    Troops. 

As  Mr.  Shirley  is  the  Officer  who  is  to 
command  after  me,  and  of  whofe  Intregity 
and  Zeal  for  his  Majefty's  Service  I  have  a 
very  great  Opinion,  I  gave  him  Authority, 
in  cafe  there  was  no  Treafurer  nominated 
in  the  North,  to  draw  upon  his  Majefty's 
Treafury  for  the  Account  of  Expences  of 
the    Service  of  his  own  Diftricl. 

I  have  written  to  the  Duke  of  New-Caflle, 
to  convince  him  of  the  Neceffity  of  acting 
in  this  Manner  -y  considering  at  what  Diftance 
we  are,  and  Impoffiblity  of  being  able  to 
confer  Notes  upon  this  Subject.  He  writes 
that  Governor  Shirley  has  propofed  to  him, 
to  treat  the  two  new  raifed  Regiments  as 
thofe  of  Old-England. 

The      Copy      inclofed       will        acquaint 

you    of  the   different  Subjects  that  have  been 

examined  in    Council,  and   what  I    brought 

upon    the  Carpet  at  this    Interview  which  I 

F  f  have 


(       226       ) 

have  had  with  the  Governors  :     As  I  have 
been   charged  by  his  Majefty  to  employ  thofc 
Ferions   I    fhouid   find     moft      proper     for 
bringing  over    the   Six   Indian  Nations  to  his 
Intereft;  it  appeared  in  Council  of  the  great- 
eft    Confequence,    and  to   deferve    a    much 
greater  Attention,  than  I    at  firft  imagined  ; 
that  for  fome  Years,  their  Conduél  towards 
us   declared   a  Diflatisfadion  on  the  Part  of 
thofe  $ix-Natio72si  and   it  appeared  that  they 
greatly  failed  in   the  Confidence  they  repo- 
fed  in  his  Majefty 's   Arms.     I  propofed  Co- 
lonel yohnfon  as  the  propereft  Perfon  for  that 
Embaffy,  becaufc  of  the  great  Credit  he  has 
among   them;  my  Choice   was  unanimously 
approved    of  by   the  Council,  I  have    there- 
fore fent    him  a  Speech  which  he  is  to  make 
in   my  Name,  with   more    extenfive   Power 
to  treat  with  them,  and   he  alone  is  charg- 
ed  with  this    Négociation  3  for   that  End,  I 
have   advanced  to  him  the  Sum  of  Two  Thou- 
fand  Pounds,    Eight   Hundred    of    which    is 
to  be  given   them  immediately    in   Prefents, 
and  reimburfed    by  the    Colonies  -,    the  reft 
for  Prefents  hereafter,  and  to   pay  whatever 
it  may  coft,  to   fet   them   to  work.      I  have 
in  like  Manner  given  him    Power  to   draw 
upon  Governor  Shirley  for  more  confiderabie 
Sums,  in  Cafe  of  abfoiute   Neceffitv,  upon 

•  é    *  A. 


(     *27     ) 

no  other  Proviib,  than  to  keep  an  exaft  Ac- 
count of  of  the  Uie  that  fhall  be  made  there- 
of: The  Emergency  of  the  Service,  and  the 
Neceffity  I  am  under  of  depending  on  him, 
engage  me  to  put  that  Confidence  in  him, 
and  the  Proofs  he  has  given  of  his  Probi- 
ty on  every  Occafion»  alTure  me,  that  he 
will  not  abufe  it. 

You  will  be   fufficiently  informed  Sir,  by 
the  Minutes   of   the   Council  which  I   fend 
you,  of  the   Impoflibility  of  obtaining  from 
feveral  Colonies  the   Eftablifhrnent    of  a  ge- 
neral Fund,  agreeable  to    his  Majefty's    In- 
ftruclions,  and   to   the  Letters  you  have    di- 
rected  to  me  for   feveral  Governors.     Since 
the   laft     Accounts    I    fent    you,    very  little 
Money  and  very  few  Men  have  been  furnifhed 
by  thefe  Provinces  ;  the  Sum  of  Twenty  Thou- 
fand  Pounds  Currency  has  been  fpent  in  Vir~ 
ginid)    although  that  Money  is  not  yet   raifed  : 
The  Provinces   of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 
ftill    refufe  to    contribute;  the   Province    of 
New-Tork  has    railed   the  Sum  of  Five  Thou- 
/and  Pounds  Currency  for  the  Troops  of  that 
Province,     which  I     have  deftined    for    the 
particular  Service  of  the  Garrifon  of  Chouaguen, 
There  was    further  raifed   in   that  Province, 
the   Sum  of  Four  Thou/and  Pounds,  for  the 
Fortifications  of  that  Government,  and,  above 
Ff2  all, 


(       228       ) 

all,  of  the  Metropolis  :  I  begged  Mr.  Delancy 
to  fend  it  over  for  the  general  Service  of  the 
Expedition;  but  I  very  much  fear,  there 
will  be  nothing  of  it. 

Governor  Shirley  will  acquaint  you,  Sir, 
of  the  Expence  of  New-England  upon  the 
prodigious  Levy  of  Men  that  has  been  made  in 
thefe  Governments,  for  the  Enterprises  of  the 
North-f,  the  other  Governors  have  done  very 
little  or  rather  nothing.  I  cannot  but  take 
the  Liberty  to  reprefent  to  you  the  Neceflity 
of  laying  a  Tax  upon  all  his  Majefty's  Domi- 
nions in  America^  agreeable  to  the  refult  of 
Council,  for  reimbursing  the  great  Sums  that 
muft  be  advanced  for  the  Service  and  Intereft 
of  the  Colonies,  in  this  important  Crifis.  '  I 
am  obliged  to  tell  you  that  the  Expence  of  the 
Service  of  America,  will  exceed  the  Quota  of 
each  Province,  by  much  more  than  I  was 
perfwaded,  and  will  go  beyond  what  the  Go- 
vernment imagined.  Among  other  innume- 
rable 


t  The  prodigious  Levies  made  for  the  Enterprises  of  the 
North  !  Let  the  Situation  of  Canada  be  con  fidered  with  Regard 
to  the  Enplijh  Colonies,  and  the Defign  of  thefe  Enterprises 
will  be  perceived  by  all  Men,  fo  much  effectual  Preparation, 
and  fuch  confiderable  Expences,  could  no:  certainly  have  been 
made  for  that  only  Object,  that  poor  unfruitful  Country» 
which  extends  from  the  jpafcehian  Mountains  to  the  Ohifi, 
•which  is  fcarce  worth  the  Expence  of  arming  one  Veffll. 


(        229       ) 

rablc  Rcafons  which  may  be  mentioned,  is, 
that  there  will  be  confiderable  Augmentation 
in  the  Service  under  my  Direction  ;  there  are 
a  Number  of  Horfes,  Waggons,  and  Battocs, 
neceflary  for  tranfporting  the  Artillery,  Bag- 
gage, &cK  Couriers  alfo,  and  the  exceffive 
Price  of  daily  Labourers,  Although  I  am 
refolved  to  ufe  the  gresteft  Oeconomv.  Whe- 
ther that  Sum  be  reimburfed  by  the  Provinces 
or  not,  I  mould  be  blamed  by  his  Majefty,  if 
by  untimely  Parfimony,  feeing  the  Situation 
of  Affairs,  I  mould  make  the  projected  Ope- 
rations mifcarry.  You'll  permit  me,  Sir,  to 
refer  you  to  the  Minutes  of  the  Council,  for 
the  Propofals  I  made  to  the  Provinces,  to 
which  they  have  not  anfwered,  particularly 
concerning  the  Battoes  which  Jhould  be  built  upon 
the  Lakes  :  The  building  of  thofe  upon  Lake 
Ontario,  to  be  directed  by  Governor  Shirley, 
and  the  Expence  to  be  paid  by  Commodore 
Keppel 

Since  my  Departure  from  Willi amjburgh,  I 
have  had  the  Honour  to  receive  a  Letter  from 
you,  with  his  Majefty's  Orders  for  augment- 
ing the  Regiments  of  this  Continent  to  a 
Thoufand  Men  each,  in  Confequcnce  whereof 
I  have  employed  fuch  Officers  along  the  South- 
ern Coafts,  as  feemed  tome  moft  proper  for 
recruiting,  and  difpatched  a  Courier  to  Mr. 

Lawrence, 


(     *3°     ) 

Lawrence y  that  he  might  execute  his  Majefty's 
Orders  upon  that  Subjed:,  concerning  what 
regards  the  Regiments  of  his  Province,  with 
all  poffible  Diligence. 

I  have  Orders  from  his  Majefty  to  make  no 
new  Officers  in  thefe  Regiments  5  but  this 
Augmentation  of  Troops,  with  the  Number 
of  little  Detachments  I  am  obliged  to  make, 
have  already  put  me  under  the  Neceffity  of 
nominating  a  Number  of  Subalterns,  to  affift 
thofe  who  have  been  recommended  to  me 
from  Old-England,  to  ferve  without  Pay,  un- 
til Places  are  vacant  -y  to  each  of  thefe  Detach- 
ments, there  is  to  be  an  Officer  who  is  to, 
have  the  Charge  of  the  Provisions  and  Cafh  ; 
and  alfo  to  mark  out  the  Camps  which  muft 
be  formed  every  Night  for  Want  of  Villages, 
much  more  neceffary  in  this  Country,  as  the 
Woods  are  very  clofe  and  thick  ;  by  that 
Means  the  Officer  will  be  better  enabled  to 
have  his  Troops  before  him,  to  prevent  any 
Surprize  from  the  Indian  Parties,  which  is  al- 
ways very  much  to  be  feared,  notwithftanding 
all  the  Precautions  that  can  be  taken  ;  for  that 
reafon,  and  many  others 'which  I  could  de- 
fcribe  to  you,  I  cannot  exprefs  to  you,  how 
much  Difficulty  I  fear  in  the  Service  I  am  en- 
trufted  with  in  North- America,  if  the  Num- 
ber of  Officers  be  not  augmented  in  Propor- 
tion 


(     *3*     ) 

tion  to  that  of  the  Troops.  As  the  little  Dé- 
pendance upon  this  Country,  obliges  me  to 
fetch  Provifions  from  fcveral  Colonies,  far 
diftant  one  from  the  other,  I  have  been  ob- 
liged to  nominate  two  Commiffary-Affiftants 
for  Victualling,  to  whom  I  have  afiigned  Four 
Shillings  a-Day  ;  I  have  alio  named,  a  Quar- 
ter-Mafter-General  Affiftant,  at  the  fame  Pay, 
becaufe  of  the  Neceffity  I  am  under  of  em- 
ploying Sir  John  St.  Clair ,  at  Three  Hundred 
Miles  from  me,  occupied  at  prefent  in  making 
the  Roads  and  Bridges,  and  providing  Wag- 
gons, Horfes,  &c.  for  tranfporting  the  Am- 
munition, Provifions,  and  Artillery. 

I  have  met  with  fuch  Difficulties  in  getting 
Carriages,  as  would  have  been  infurmounta- 
ble  without  the  Zeal,  and  Activity  of  the  Offi- 
cers and  others  employed  for  that  Purpofe. 
The  Want  of  Forage,  is  a  Difficulty  I  fee 
without  Remedy;  to  fupply  which,  I  fhall  be 
obliged  to  turn  out  the  Hones  to  Grafs  upon 
the  Mountains  ;  I  defign  to  fet  out  from  here 
for  Frederick  To-morrow  Morning,  to  take 
the  road  for  Wills-Creek,  where  I  fhould  have  * 
been  before,  if  I  had  not  been  ftopp'd  to  wait 
for  the  Artillery,  and  I  am  much  affraid  that 
k  will  keep  me  here  longer  ;  I  hope  by  the 
Beginning  of  May  to  be  upon  the  Mountains, 
atad  fome  Time  in  June  to  be  able  to  difpat 

an 


(     *32     ) 

an  Exprefs,  which  will  acquaint  you  with 
the  Iffue  of  our  Operations  on  the  river  Ohio. 
Though  I  have  done  all  in  my  Power,  I  have 
not  been  able  to  get  a  more  exact  Account  of 
the  Number  of  French  at  prefent  on  the  Ohio  ; 
but  I  expect  to  get  more  certain  Intelligence 
when  I  mall  be  at  Wills-Creek,  and  mail  take 
my  Meafures  accordingly, 

I  cannot  fufficiently  exprefs  the  Satisfaction 
I  have  to  be  employed  in  his  Majefty's  Service 
in  America,  at  a  Time  when  it  is  in  my  Power 
to  form  and  execute  a  Plan  for  Attacking  the 
French,  in  all  their  confiderable  Pofts  ufurped 
upon  his  Majefty's  Lands  in  North- America, 
even  to  the  Southern  Parts  thereof.  I  fee  a 
great  Appearance  ofSuccefs  in  each  of  them  y 
I  perceive  fo  JlriEl  a  Connexion  between  each  of 
thefe  Projets,  that  the  Succefs  of  the  one,  will 
procure  us  that  of  the  other.  If  then  I  iucceed 
in  the  firft,  and  moft  important  of  thefe  Pro- 
jects, I  am  perfwaded  that  his  Majefty  will 
Hop  the  Pregrefs  of  the  French  in  their  new 
Settlements,  and  that  it  .will  ferve  to  make 
I  his  Subjects  upon  this  Continent  take  Cou- 
rage, and  roufe  them  from  the  Careleflhefs 
and  Negligence  of  their  Duty,  with  which 
they  have  been  a  long  Time  reproached  with 
fo  much  Juftice. 

I  am,  with  the  moft  profound  RefpeB,  &c.  \ 

I 


Y    The   Subfcriber,    of  the  Superior  Council  of 

JL  Quebec,  à  y,    That'll.  ..ted 

|  nglifl]    into   French,  Word  for   I'/trJ, 

Letter.  prefent  Ra  ord 

of  Major -Gene,  a  I    Braddock,    the   Original  of 
which  remains  depofited  in  the  Secretary  s-Of) 
of  the  Governor-G 'eneral  of  New-  France,  done 
Quebec,  the  Thirtieth  of  September,    One 
Thoufand  Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty-five. 

Signed,    Perthuis. 

WE  the  Governor -General,  mid  Intendant 
of  New-France,  do  certify  that  M. 
Perthuis,  one  of  the  Superior  Council  of  Que- 
bec, hatb  tranfUted  fromTLnglittx  into,  French; 
all  the  Letters  contained  in  the  prefent  Regifter, 
and  that  we  have  beard  the  Englifh  that  f re- 
quent  this  City,  fay,  that  the  faid  M.  Perthuis 
jpeaks  Englifh  and  tra? fates  it  perfectly,  Que- 
bec, September  30,    1755. 

Signed,  Vaudreuil  and  Bigot. 

Other  Letters  of  General Braddocfc,  found  ih 

a  Book  feparàîed  from  the  above  Regijler. 
To  the  Duke  of  New-Caftlt\°" 
Willi anifburg,  March  20,   1755. 
My  Lord, 

I   TAKE    the    firft   Opportunity   to  fatisfy 
your   Grace's   Command,   in    acquainting 
you  with   my  Arrival  here,  and   tl 


G  £  .lie Is 

1 


(     234     ) 

Veffels  which  have  tranfported  the  Troops 
under  my  Command  -,  my  Voyage  has  been 
very  fatiguing,  but  the  Tranfport-Ships  have 
been  better  treated,  becaufe  there  was  not  one 
lick  on  board  of  them. 

i"  dont  know  as  yet  what  Effedl  his  Majejlys 
Orders  will  produce  in  the  Minds  cf  the  People 
here  *  concerning  the  prefent  Expedition,  I  can- 
not yet  fay  whether  the  fever al  Governors  have 
altogether  the  Influence  that  was  expetJed  ;  I 
labour,  andfhall  always  continue  my  Endeavours, 
to  excite  them  to  defray  the  Expences  of  this  Ex- 
pedition through  their  Provinces  :  They  are 
obliged  to  grant  it,  to  prove  their  Attachment  to 
his  Majefty,  and  anfwer  what  their  Interejls 
require. 

For  that  Purpofe,  I  have  commanded  Go- 
vernor Shirley  to  come  to  me  at  Annapolis,  in 
Maryland,  and  have  defired  the  Governors  of 
New-York  and  Pennfylvania  to  come  with 
him,  if  the  Bufinefs  of  their  Governments 
would  permit.  I  will  not  make  you  a  long 
Detail  of  all  Things  wherein  I  am  bufy  con- 
cerning the  Service  in  which  I  am  engaged  ; 

as 

*  It  is  then  to  the  pojitive  Orders  from  the 
Court  #/"  London,  and  not  to  the  ardent  Defire 
of  the  Governors  of  the  Englifh  Colonies,  that 
this  Attempt  of  the  Englifh  ought  to  be  attributed. 


(     *35     ) 

as  I  wrote  at  large  to  the  Secretary  of  State 
about  that  Matter,  I  defire  you  would  fuffer 
me  to  refer  you  to  his  Letter,  for  all  Things 
you  would  defire  to  know. 

Shirley's  Regiment  will  foon  be  entirely 
compleat  (if  it  be  not  fo  already)  that  of  Sir 
William  Pepperell's  I  imagine  is  advancing 
very  much,  and  when  I  fee  Mr.  Shirley  >  I 
fhall  concert  with  him  about  the  Manner  that 
will  appear  to  me  beft,  for  the  Employment 
of  the  Forces  in  the  North.  I  am  to  march 
with  thofe  I  have  with  me,  to  attempt  the 
Reduction  of  the  French  Forts  upon  the  Ohioy 
and  I  hope  that  I  mail  be  by  the  End  of  April, 
on  the  other  Side  of  the  Alligany  Mountains. 

I  have  had  all  the  Affiftance  poffible 
from  Commodore  Keppel;  and  found  in  the 
Governor  of  this  Province  a  Man  who  con- 
tributed with  the  beft:  Grace  to  the  Necef- 
fities  of  the  prefent  Expedition  :  This  Pro- 
vince through  the  Governor's  Care,  is  dif- 
pofed  at  prefent  to  fupply  whatever  it  will 
be  able.  Which  I  dare  not  hope  from  other 
Governments. 

As  fmall  Money  would  be  very  neceffary 
1ère  for  paying  the  Troops,  I  pray  your 
Grace  would  order  the  Contraclers  Mr. 
Hambury  and  Mr.  Thomlinfony  to  fend  over 
G  g  2 


\      z  3 J      ) 

as  foon  as  poffibie  (if  they  have  not  done 
it  already)  Four  or  Five  Thoufand  Founds  in 
Dollars  and  half  Dollars,  the  Treafurer  of 
the  Troops  having  only  Gold  at  prefent. 
I  am,  with  the  moil  profound  refpect,  &c. 

%o  the  Earl  of  Halifax. 

(Without  Date.) 

My  Lord, 

THE  I  n  ter  eft  which  your  Excellency  has 
in  all  that  concerns  his  Majefty's  Domi- 
nions in  America^  and  the  Part  you  bear  in 
the  Administration  of  the  Government  of 
them,  oblige  me  to  give  you  an  Account  of 
my  Situation;  I  hope  it  will  not  be  difpleafing 
to  you.  Your  Excellency,  without  Doubt^ 
has  been  informed  of  the  favourable  Succefs 
the  Tranfports  have  met  with  here,  and  of 
the  Meafures  I  have  taken  at  my  Arrival,  fo| 
carrying  on  with  Succefs  his  Majefty's :  Service 
under  my  Direction,  which  may  tend  to  his 
Interefts,  and  to  that  of  his  Subjects  upon  till 
Continent. 

Some  Time  ago  Î  fent  to  the  Secretary  M 
State  an  Account  of  the  Succours  that  haw 
been  granted  me  by  all  thefe  Colonies  upol 
the  prefent   Occafion  ;  there   is    no  Need  ql 

fendin 


(     237     ) 

fending  it  to  you  in  particular.  I  am  very 
lorry  that  I  am  obliged  to  lay,  that  the  Inha- 
bitants of  thefe  Colonies  in  general,  have  all 
ihewn  much  Negligence  for  his  Majefty's  Ser- 
vice, and  their  own  Interefts.  Nevcithelefs 
they  have  not  all  equally  deferved  this  Cen- 
fure,  and  particularly  this  Province  where  I 
am,  ought  not  to  be  put  in  Comparifon  with 
their  Neighbours,  and  may  feem  not  to  have 
merited  thefe  Reproaches. 

I  am  periuaded  that  the  Account  your 
Lordiliip  has  received  of  the  good  Difpoiitions 
of  the  Northern  Colonies,  and  particularly  of 
that  under  the  Command  of  Mr.  Shirley, 
ought,  very  juftly,  to  gain  him  the  Good-will 
of  his  Majefty.  I  cannot  fufficiently  exprefs 
my  Indignation  again  ft  the  Provinces  of  Penn- 
fyhania  and  Maryland,  whofe  Interelt  being 
alike  concerned  in  the  Event  of  this  Expedi- 
tion, and  much  more  fp  than  any  other  in 
this  Continent,  refufe  to  contribute  any  Thing 
for  fuftaining  the  Project,  and  what  they  pro- 
pole  is  done  upon  no  other  Terms  than  fuch 
as  are  altogether  contrary  to  the  King's  Pre- 
rogatives, and  to  the  Infix-actions  he  has  fent 
to  their  Governors.  You  will  perhaps  be  glad 
to  know  that  I  have  affembled  the  Governors 
of  New-England,  New-York,  Pennfylvania 
and   Maryland  together,  and  have  fixed  the 

Plan 


(     238,    ) 

Plan  which  we  are  to  follow  in  attacking  the 
Prench  all  at  once,  in  all  their  Encroachments 
upon  Nova-Scotia,  Crown-Point  and  Niagara, 
which  muft  be  executed  with  all  the  Refolu- 
tion  and  Courage  imaginable. 

(He  Repeats  all  that  he  wrote  to  Sir  Tho- 
mas Robinfon,  in  his  Letter  dated  April  the 
19th,  which  is  the  Fifth  in  the  above  Ré- 
gi fter.) 

I  have  given  Colonel  Johnfon  full  Power  to 
treat  with  the  Six  Natiom  and  their  Allies, 
and  with  all  the  other  Indians  of  the  Weft, 
as  far  as  he  fhall  find  it  neceflary  ;  and  have 
ïènt  him  Speeches,  that  he  muft  make  to 
them  on  my  Behalf;  I  have  alfo  given  him 
Money  for  Prefents,  and  Power  to  draw  upon 
Governor  Shirley,  if  he  finds  it  neceflary  on 
this  Occafion. 

Mr.  Poronal  *  or  Pownall  has  laid  before 
me  a  Contract  made  in  the  Year  1701  by  the 
Six  Nations,  whereby  they  give  to  his  Ma- 
jefty  all  their  Hunting-Lands  :  This  Ceflion 
comprehends  an  Extent  of  Land  the  Breadth 
of  Sixty  Miles,  along  the  Cdafts  of  the  Lakes 
Ontario  and  Erie.  I  have  given  this  Contraét 
to  Colonel  Johnfon,  with  Orders  to  prefent 
it  to  them  from  me,  and  to  aflure  them  that 

I 

*  I  believe  you  may  read  Pownelh 


v     *39     ) 

I  am  come  here  upon  no  other  Defign,  than 
to  retake  thefe  Lands  from  the  French,  and 
preferve  them  for  their  Ufe  %. 

I  will  not  recount  Word  for  Word  what 
has  been  propos'd  in  Council  about  the  Veflels 
which  are  to  be  built  upon  Lake  Ontario  ; 
Commodore  Keppel  and  I,  have  agreed  to 
give  Mr.  Shirley  the  Direction  of  that  Affair, 
and  thought  proper  to  give  him  Liberty  to 
determine  the  Size  and  Force  of  thefe  VeiTels 
as  he  thought  proper. 

I  propofè  to  begin  my  March,  in  order  to 
attack  the  Fort  on  the  Ohio,  with  all  poflible 
Diligence  :  I  thought  to  be  by  this  Time 
upon  the  Mountains,  but  I  have  been  detained 
by  a  Number  of  Difficulties,  as  well  through 
the  Inconveniency  of  the  Climate,  and  State 
of  the  Country,  as  the  Want  of  a  great 
Number  of  Horfes,  Waggons,  and  other 
Equipages,  which  have  been  fought  long 
before  they  could  be  procured. 

I 

£  It  is  excellent  enough,  that  notwiihfanding 
this  pretended  Contract,  of  which  they  make  a 
great  Account  of  in  Europe,  they  are  obliged  in 
America,  to  e?ideavour  to  perfuade  the  Indians 
\(a  People  who  are  not  to  be  bubbled)  that  they 
are  at  War,  for  no  other  Rea/on  than  to  rein- 
state them  in  *Wr  Pofïe fiions. 


(       240       ) 

I  fet  off  To-morrow  for  Frederick,  which 
is  on  the  Road  to  Fort  Cumberland  upon  Wills- 
Creek,  and  before  the-  End  of  Jwie  I  hope 
I  fhail  he  able  to  give  an  exaft  Account  of 
the  Affair  at  the  Ohio.  I  hope  I  mall  have 
the  Power  to  put  in  Execution  the  Plan  which 
I  have  formed,  for  forcing  from  the  French 
the  moil  confiderable  Ufurpations  that  they 
have  made  upon  his  Majefty's  Frontiers  of 
North-America.  Should  I  fucceed  in  the 
moil  important  of  •  thefe  Operations,  I  am 
perfuaded  that  it  will  be  eafy  for  his  Majefty 
to  flop  the  Projects  of  the  French,  which 
encreaie  more  and  more  upon  this  Continent. 
/  am,  with  Rejpecl,  &c. 

Another  Letter,  thought  to  be  written  to  Sir 
Thomas  Robinfon,  though  the  F erfon  s  Name 
to  whom  it  is  directed,  is  not  me?itio?îecL  . 

Fort  Cumberland,  at  Witts-Creek, 
y  une  the  $th,    1755. 
Sir, 

I  HAD  the  Honour  to- write  to  you  from  J 
Frederick,  the  latter  End  of  April. 
I  arrived  here  the   10th  of  May,  and  the 
17th  arrived  the  moil  of  the  Army,  coming 
from  Alexandria,  after  a  March  of  Twenty- 
{qvqii  Days,  having  gone  through  many  Diffi- 
culties' 


i    241    ; 

cullies  and  Obitacles,  as  well  through  the 
Badncls  of  the  Roads,  as  the  Want  of  Forage 
and  the  little  Zeal  in  the  People  for  the  Suo 
cefs  of  our  Expedition. 

I  have  at  Jail  afTemblcd  all  the  Troops  de- 
fined for  the  Attack  of  For?  ai  ^ucjhe,  which 
bunt  to  Two  Thoufand  effective  Men,  èî 
which  there  are  Eleven  Hundred  furnifhed  by 
the  Southern  Provinces,  who  have  (o  little 
Courage  and  Difpoiition,-  that  fcarce  any  mili- 
tary Service  cap  be  expecled  from  them, 
though  I  have  employed  the  beft  Officers  to 
form  them. 

When  I  arrived  here,  my  Defign  was  to 
flay  only  a  few  Days  to  reft  my  Troops,  but 
the  Difficulty  of  getting  Horfes  and  Waggons, 
in  order  to  pais  the  Mountains,  has  obliged 
mc  to  remain  here  almoft  one  whole  Month* 

Before  I  left  WUUamJlmr?,  the  Qnjirter- 
Mafter- General  told  me,  that  I  could  depend 
upon  Two  Thoufand  Five  Hundred  Horfes^ 
and  Two  Hundred  Waggons  from  Ffrgitiià 
and  Maryland,  but  I  had  great  Realon  to  doubt 
it,  having  experienced  the  fa  lie  Dealings  of  all 
in  this  Country  with  whom  Ï  have  been  con- 
cerned ;  wherefore,  before  mv  Depai  vv;t  from 
Frederick,  I  defired  Mr.  B.  Franklin,  Poft- 
Mafter  of  Fcnnfshania,  who  has  great  Credit 
in  that  Province,  to  hire  me  One  Hundred 
H  h  ana 


(       242       ) 

and-  Fifty  Waggons  and  the  Number  of 
Horfes  neceffary,  which  he  did  with  fo  much 
Goodnefs  and  Keadinefs,  that  it  is  almoft  the 
firft  Inftance  of  Integrity,  Addrefs  and  Abi- 
lity that  I  have  {ttn  in  all  thefe  Provinces. 
All  thefe  Waggons  and  Horfes  have  joined  me, 
in  which  I  l<2y  great  Strefs.  The  fine  Pro- 
mifes  of  Virginia  and  Maryland,  amounted  to 
no  more  than  the  furnifhing  Twenty  Wag- 
gons and  Two  Hundred  Horfes  :  With  this 
Number  I  (ball  be  abie  to  fet  oft  from  here, 
though  I  muft  meet  with  infinite  Difficulties, 
particularly  marching  with  only  a  Part  of  the 
Ammunition  I  expected,  and  having  been 
obliged  to  fend  a  Detachment  before  me,  to 
lay  up  and  fecure  Provi  fions  upon  the  Moun- 
tains of  Ailigany,  which  are  five  Days  March 
from  here. 

I  fhould  never  finifb,  were  I  to  give  a  De- 
tail of  the  innumerable  ïnftances  of  the  Want 
of  Integrity  I  have  found  both  in  general  and 
in  particular,  and  of  the  moft  abfolute  Con- 
tempt of  Truth  I  have  met  with  in  the  Courfe 
of  this  Service  -,  I  cannot  help  adding  to  what  j 
I  have  already  told  you,  two  or  three  Exam- 
ples. 

The  Governor  of  Virginia  fent  me  an  Ac- 
count of  a  Purchafe  he  had  made  of  Eleven 
Hundred  Beeves*  which  were  to  be  delivered 

in 


i     Ml    ) 

in  June  and  Augujl,  for  the  Subfiftanc*  of 
the  Troops  ;  this  Purchafe  had  been  made 
upon  the  Credit  of  Tivtnty  Tboufand  Pounds 
of  that  Currency,  granted  by  the  Aflembly 
for  the  Service  of  his  Majefty,  in  Favour  of 
this  Expedition  :  In  Confequence  of  which, 
I  regulated  znd  ordered  Affairs  for  the  beft, 
but  a  few  Days  after  the  Contractor  of  the 
faid  Purchafe  came  to  tell  mc,  that  the  AiTem- 
bly  had  refufed  to  fulfil  the  Governor's  En- 
gagements, and  confequent'iy  the  Purchafe 
became  void.  As  this  Affair  was  of  the 
greareft  Confequence,  I  offered  immediately 
to  engage  him  the  Payment,  upon  the  Terms 
of  the  Purchafe,  but  the  Contractor  rejected 
my  Offers,  and  required  one  third, Part  of  the 
Money  in  Kand,  on  Account  of  the  Purchafe, 
and  would  not  engage  to  deliver  me  the 
Beeves  before  two  Months,  when  they  would 
have  been  of  little  or  no  Ufe. 

Another  Example  :  The  Agent  of  Mûry- 
land  employed  to  furniih  the  Troops  with 
Provifions,  had  collected  fome,  which  at  flrft 
Sight  were  all  judged  to  be  fpoil'd,  and  I  faw 
rnyfelf  under  a  Nceefiity  of  fending  One 
Hundred  Miles  to  collect  others.  This  Dif- 
pofition  of  the  People  not  only  puts  back  the 
Defigns  of  his  Majeftv,  but  alfo  doubles  the 
Et; pences,  occafioned  by  1,1?  -Difficulty  theie 
H  h  2  is 


(     H4     ) 

is  of  thé  Carriage,  in  theje  Countries  yet  nvin-. 
habited,  unkno%vn  and  impracticable  to  the  In* 
habitants  themfelves  who  live  in  the  lowed 
Farts,  finding  every  where  a  continued  Chain 
of  Mountains,  fo  that  the  Charges  would  far 
exceed  the  principal  Stock  -,  I  was  therefore 
obliged  to  leave  at  Alexandria,  a  great  deal  of 
Ammunition  that  would  be  of  very  great 
Ufe  to  me  here  ;  the  Conduct  of  thefe  Go- 
vernments feems  to  me  without  a  Parrallel  ; 
This  Negligence  is  a  little  excufable  in  the 
lower  Clafs  of  People,  becaufe  they  have  not 
been  fatisfied  for  the  Pains  they  have  taken, 
being  employed  in  the  public  Service  in  the 
preceeding  Occafions,  their  Payment  has  been 
neglected.  We  fee  by  Experience  the  bad 
Confçquencçs  that  attend  fuch  like  Proceed- 
ings. 

As  I  have  Orders  from  his  Majedy,  to  ufe 
all  poffible  Means  for  gaining  the  Indians  to 
pur  Intered,  I  have  afiembled  fonie  of  them 
from  the  Frontiers  of  Pennsylvania,  and  par-r 
ticularly  of  the  Six  Nations,  with  whom  I 
have  had  already  two  or  -three  Conferences, 
I  have  made  them  handfome  Prefents  ;  they, 
are  about  Fifty  in  Number,  but  I  hope  to 
draw  a  great  many  more.  When  I  arrived  in 
/hnerica,  I  was  allured  that  Ï  might  depend 
upon  a  great  Number  of  Indians  from  the 

Southward, 


.    (    =45     ) 

Southward,  but  the  bad  Conduct  of  the  Go- 
vernment of  Virginia,  has  turned  them  en- 
tirely againfl  us;  in  Effect  they  behaved  to 
the  Indians  with  io  little  Discretion,  a?id  fo 
much  unfair  Dealing,  that  we  muft  at  prefent 
be  at  great  Expence  to  regain  their  Confidence; 
and  there  is  no  trufiing  even  thofe  who  have 
embraced  our  Caufe.  The  Situation  of  this 
Country  is  fuch,  that  the  French  cannot  get 
any  Intelligence  but.  by  Means  of  the  Indians^ 
in  whole  Reports  little  Confidence  can  be  put; 
I  am  informed  there  are  but  a  fmfcll  Number 
of  them  in  Fort  du  tyuefnc,  but  that  they  ex- 
pect a  great  Reinforcement. 

I  am  informed  that  Two  Thoufand  Stand 
of  Arms  are  arrived,  which  are  deftined  to 
New-England,  and  that  they  are  ordered  to 
Neva-Scotia. 

They  labour  at  the  Battoes  defigned  to 
tran (port  the  Troops  which  are  going  to  at- 
tack Niagara  and  Crown-Point  ;  neverthelefs 
New-York,  which  was  to  furnifh  the  greateft 
Part  of  them,  docs  not  (hew  upon  this  Occa- 
sion fo  much  Zeal  as  I  could  wifh.  As  i  am 
certain  that  a  Road  through  Pennfyhqnia 
would  be  more  proper  and  fafer,  for  fettling  a 
Communication  after  the  Troops  have  paffed 
the  Alligany  Mountains  ;  I  deiired  Governor 
Morris  to  make  one  in   that  Province,  from 

tfinflurg 


(     246     ) 

Sbippenjburg  to  the  River  Yaughyaughanc.  I 
am  informed  they  are  at  work  on  it  with 
great  Diligence,  and  that  it  will  be  finifhed 
in  one  Month  :  This  road  will  be  of  great 
Importance,  as  well  for  bringing  me  Provi- 
fions,  as  for  fecuring  me  a  Communication 
with  the  Northern  Colonies,  I  wait  but  for 
my  laft  Convoy  to  begin  my  March,  and  if 
no  Accidents  happen,  I  hope  I  fhall  begin  it 
in  five  Days  through  the  Alligany  Mountains: 
I  expect  to  meet  with  a  great  many  Obftacles 
by  what  I  can  hear  :  The  Diftanee  from 
hence  to  that  Fort  is  no  Miles*;  this  road 
cannot  be  travelled  without  infinite  Labour, 
as  it  is  very  mountainous  and  has  exceeding 
high  Rocks  and  in  many  Places  large  Gut- 
ters and  Rivers  to  wade.  I  fhall  embrace  the 
firft  Opportunity  to  acquaint  you  with  my 
Situation  after  leaving  this  Place;  and  am, 
with  the  moft  profound  Refpect,  &c. 

T  The  Sulfcriber,  one  of  the  Superior  Council 
ef  Quebec,  do  certify  that  I  have  tranf- 
latedy  &c. 

Two 

*  The  Diftanee  from  Fort  Cumberland  U 
Fort  du  Quefne  ;;  about  37  Leagues  «  at  20 
to  a  Decree* 


(      24.7      ! 

Two  other  Letters  might  be  here  annexed» 
one  from  General  Braddock  to  Commodore 
Keppel,  dated  Willi 'am /burg,  Feb.  27th  ;  in 
this  Letter  he  defires  him  to  land  with  all 
Speed  at  Alexandria,  the  Cohorns,  Bombs, 
and  other  Machines  deftined  to  throw  Fire 
either  in  Veffels  or  Intrenchmcnts.  The  other 
is  from  Mr.  Robert  Orm,  Aid-de-Camp,  to  Sir 
Peter  Halket,  he  gives  him  feveral  Orders, 
and  among  the  reft:  His  Excellency  orders 
you  to  receive  all  Deferters,  and  provide  them 
with  whatever  they  afk,  and  if  they  are  willing 
to  inlift,  he  defires  you  would  take  them  without 
any  Difficulty,  and  Jland  neither  upon  Terms 
?wr  Appearance,  but  pafs  them  all  for  effeèJive 
Men. 

A  Letter  jrom  Charles  Lawrence,  Efquire, 
to  General  Braddock. 


Halifax,  May  10,    17 


JO' 


1 


S  I  R, 

HAVE  had  the  Honour  to  receive  a 
Letter  from  you,  dated  at  Annapolis,  in 
Maryland,  April  the  7th,  by  a  Velïèl  come 
two  Days  ago  from  Philadelphia  :  Pennit  me 
to  aiTure  you,  that  nothing  could  he  a  greater 
Mortification  to  ma,  than  you  fhould  harbour 

the 


(     24§     ) 

the  leaft  Thought  of  my  being  Hack  in  my 
Duty  towards  a  Peribn  to  whom  I  am  fo 
much  obliged  ,  till  the  very  Moment  I  re- 
ceived your  Letter,  I  had  neither  heard  of 
your  Arrival  in  Virginia,  nor  of  the  Extent 
of  your  Commiffions  ;  no  fooner  I  knew  it, 
but  I  improved  the  firft  Opportunity  of  giving 
you  a  general  Account  of  the  Situation  of 
Affairs  in  this  Province,  as  alio  an  Account 
of  the  Forces  and  Troops  his  Majelty  has 
here,  together  with  Remarks  upon  every  In- 
dividual :  I  flatter  myfelfyou  have  received 
them  already,  and  that  you  will  approve  of 
them. 

I  acknowledge,  Sir,  that  I  have  acquainted 
Commodore  Keppel  with  the  Expedition  pro- 
jected to  flop  the  Enterprizes  of  the  French 
at  Beau-fejour  and  St.  Johtis-River,  in  the 
fame  Manner  as  he  himfelf  has  informed  you; 
and  which  had  been  concerted  between  Go- 
vernor Shirley  and  myfelf  -,  and  the  reafon  of 
my  acquainting  him  therewith,  fprung  from 
fome  printed  Orders  which  Captain  Rous  had 
received  from  the  Admiralty,  to  place  him- 
felf under  the  Commodore's  Orders  ;  that, 
with  fome  other  Advices,  made  me  to  con- 
clude that  Commodore  Keppel  was  in  Vir- 
ginia -,  but  I  had  not  at  that  Time  any  Know- 
ledge of  your  Arrival  in  Virginia,  nor  even 

any 


C     249     ) 

thy  Certainty  of  your  coming  there,  much 
Ids  could   I  form  any  Judgment  of  the  Na- 
ture  and  Extent  of  your  Com  millions  ;  thi 
Sir,  is  the  real  Truth  of  the  Matter,  I  ho] 
you  will  do  me  that  Juftice  to  believe  it. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Monckton,  with  the 
Provincial  Troops  under  his  Orders,  is  at. 
prefent  very  near  if  not  quite  before  the  Fort 
Beau-jejour  ;  and  as  I  have  cut  off  all  Com- 
munication by  Land,  between  that  Place  and 
the  Northern  Parts  of  the  Province,  in  order 
to  deprive  the  French  Inhabitants  from  know- 
ing any  Thing  that  might  be  prejudicial  to  our 
Deigns,  therefore  it  is  impomble  for  me  to 
acquaint  you  with  the  P^ogrefs  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel has  made.  I  fhall  have  the 
Honour  to  let  you  know  the  Particulars  of 
our  Enterprize  by  the  firft  Opportunity. 

I  mail  give  particular  Attention  to  your 
Orders  for  augmenting  each  of  the  three 
Regiments  that  are  here  to  a  Thoufand  Men 
each  ;  and  I  mould  not  delay  one  Moment, 
if  I  was  informed  on  what  Conditions  thefe 
Men  are  to  be  raifed,  and  what  Pay  they  are 
to  have  ;  but  as  I  have  not  as  vet  received 
any  particular  Orders  from  England  concern- 
ing the  Augmentation  and  that  none  of  thofe 
Officers  are  yet  come  whom  I  daily  r>oe:L 

I  i  Ï 


(     $J°     ) 

I  hope  you  will  look  upon  it  as  a  Thing  im- 
practicable for  me  to  proceed  therein. 

According  to  the  Advices  I  have  received 
from  New-England,  on  Account  of  the  Men 
who   have   been  railed    there  for  the    Regi- 
ments of  Governor  Shirley    and    Sir   William 
Pepperell's,  and  the  Difficulties  in  railing  the 
faid  Recruits,    I  fear  that  if  I   am  obliged   to 
fend  there  for  the  Number  of  Men   we  fhall 
want,  the  Augmentation  of  our  Troops  will 
be  long  upon   Hand   and  compofed  of  forry 
Troops  ;  but  I  hope  to  fucceed  better  among 
the  Provincial   Levies    that    are   actually    at 
Beau-fejoury  who   (if  I  am  rightly  informed) 
are  compofed   of  good  Men,  and  may  be  in- 
lifted   with  more  Speed    and    lefs  Expence 
than  thofe  that  might  be  raifed  on  the  Con- 
tinent, after  the   great  Number  of  Recruits 
that  have  been  already  raifed  there. 

In  my  Letter  of  the  29th  of  March,  I  pro- 
pofed  to  Governor  Shirley  to  make  our  Addrefs 
to  you,  that  either  his  Regiment,  or  that  of 
Sir  William  Pepperell,  might  pafs  over  here  to 
protect  the  Province,  in  Cafe  Î  fliould  think 
it  neceffary  ;  though  I  obferved  at  the  fame 
Time,  that  I  did  not  fee  great  Need  for  fuch 
Proceedings,  as  I  was  upon  the  Point  of  re- 
ceiving Two  Thoufand  Two  or  Three  Hun- 
dred Men,  who  are  now  at  Beau-fejour,  the  . 

only 


(       25I       ) 

©nly  Paffage  by  Land  to  come  to  this  Province, 
and  whereby  we  might  dread  the  Infults  of 
our  Neighbours  the  French.  I  am  yet,  Sir, 
of  the  fame  Mind,  as  there  is  not  as  yet  any 
real  Change  of  Affairs  in  America  :  Never- 
thelefs,  fhould  there  be  a  Rupture  with  the 
French  >  which  according  to  ail  Appearances 
may  happen,  it  would  be  extreamly  necelTary 
to  ftand  upon  our  Guard  ;  and  I  think  it  my 
Duty  to  inform  you,  that  in  liich  a  Cafe,  the 
three  Regiments  compleated  as  they  are  to  be, 
together  with  the  Rangers,  the  Militia  and 
all  the  Forces  we  can  depend  upon,  would 
by  no  Means  be  proportionable  to  the  Num- 
ber of  Pofts  we  have  to  defend  if  poffiblc  ; 
particularly  if  we  confider  that  in  the  very 
Heart  of  the  Province,  we  have  a  formidable 
Number  of  thofe  who  are  called  Neutral 
French^  a  People  well  experienced  in  the  UYe 
of  Arms,  and  in  Conjunction  with  the  Fre?ich\\  ; 
who  upon  the  leaft  Attempt  Canada  would 
make  to  invade  us,  I  believe  it  is  m  oft  proba- 
I  i  2  ble 

||  The  Motions  of  thefe  French  were  only 
feared  then  in  the  Time  of  a  Rupture^  that  is  to 
fay  an  ■  open  JVar,  this  deflroys  the  Accufations 
contained  in  the  Memorials  fent  Z:v  Govermr 
Cornwallis. 


(     252     ) 

ble  they   would  immediately  join  with  them. 
As  I  look  upon  this  Article  to  be  of  Impor? 
tance,  I  thought  it  my  Duty  to  fubmit  it  to. 
your  Reflection. 

I  The  Subfcriber,  one  of  the  Superior  Council 
of  Quebec,  do  certify,  That  I  have  tranf- 
lated,    &c. 

NUMB.    XIV. 
speeches  made  and  pronounced  to  the   Indians, 
by   Order  and  under  the   Infpeclion  of  Colonel 
Johnfon,  with  the  Anfwers  made  to  him. 

First    SPEECH    +.. 
P&  the  Six  Nations  from  General  Braddock. 

Ti  /f  Y  Brethren  and  Allies  of  the  Six  Na~ 
JLyJl  tiens,  I  have  already  called  you  fe- 
veral  Times  to  treat  with  you  about  different 
Affairs,  which  I  knew  nothing  of  before  I 
had  been  with  you,  and  which  are  not  yet 
come  to  the  Knowledge  of  your  Father  the 
great  King  of  England,  of  which  I  fhall  be* 

careful  1 

•f-  This  Speech  is  the  frft  in  General  Brad- 
■  dockV  Regi/ter)   but  accord'mg  to  all  Appear- 
ance,   it  was   pronounced  after    the  following 
Speech. 


(     253     ) 

careful  to  inform  him,  and  to  offer  you  by 
his  Orders  the  Prefents  which  arc  here'  before 
you,  and  which  he  gives  you  as  a  Teftimony 
of  his  paternal  Affection. 

I  have  detain'd  you  andyour  Wives  and 
Children  for  fome  Time,  hoping  in  a  few 
Days  to  fee  your  Brethren  the  Delaware*  %-, 
but  feeing  it  is  uncertain  that  they  have  yet 
arriv'd,  and  as  I  know  you  love  to  be  in 
Action,  moreover  as  the  Service  of  the  King 
your  Father  requires  your  fpeedy  Afliftance, 
I  propefc  to  ycu  to  take  up  the  Hatchet,  and 
that  you  may  the  better  Exercife  your  warlike 
Bifpoftfions,  I  promife  you  to  fend  your  Wives 
and  Children  to  Pemifilvania  ;  I  have  recom- 
mended to  the  Governor  of  that  Province,  in 
the  King's  Name,  to  take  particular  and  fra- 
ternal Care  of  them. 

A  fine  Belt  of  Wampum. 

My  Brethren  and  Allies  of  the  Six  Na- 
tirns,  I  have  a  real  Concern  to  find  how 
much    yo,u    have     fufFered    by    the    Abufe 

and 

t  Thefe   Indians    are   likewife  calVd  the 
Wolves.     They  have  quitted  the  Englifh  Party 
Jince  the  Afjaffination  of  M.  de  Jumonville. 


(     254    ) 

and  Deceit  J  of  your  perfidious  Neighbours 
the  French^  as  well  as  by  fome  of  your  Bre- 
thren the  Englifi  :  The  French  have  iniînu- 
ated  unto  you,  that  we  who  are  your  faithful 
Brothers,  had  defigned  to  drive  you  out  of 
all  your  Lands  of  Hunting  and  Game,  and  to 
feize  on  them  for  our  own  proper  Ufe:  You 
have  been  much  deceived  when  you  affifled 
the  French  to  execute  the  horrid  Defign  with 
which  they  have  charged  us,  in  putting  them 
in  the  real  Poffeffion  of  thefe  very  Lands 
which  we  had  defignd  to  fecure  unto  you  for 
your  Ufe  alone  and  particular  Intcreft  ;  I  de- 
clare unto  you  in  the  Prefence  of  your  Chiefs 
and  Warriors  here  affembled,  and  according 
to  the  Inftrudtions  I  have  received  from  the 
great  King  your  Father,  that  if  you  will  una- 
nimoufly  *  grant  me  your  Affiftance,  I  will  put 
Tou  again  in  Poffeffion  of  your  Lands,  of  which 

you 

:£  Here  they  don't  accufe  the  French  {a  much  Oi  Vio- 
lences towards  the  InMan$y  as  of  Artifice  in  gaining  their 
Neighbours;  how  can  thefe  Difcourfes  agree  with  thofe  ok 
Mr.  ffojbmgtojj,  who  would  perfuide  thefe  lame  -ho'jxoh, 
that,  he  was  come  only  at  their  Requeii:  and  upon  their  re- 
peated Complaints? 

*  The  Six  NflhMs  have  been  çjçpèVd  by  the  Trend, 
He  would  only  put  rhem  in  Polïeffion  of  their  Properties 
Thefe  arc  they  who  pray'd  die  Engtijh  to  come.:  /Nev.^r'rhfctcjfJ, 
he  begs  them  unanimoufly  to  afljft  the  Evçujb  ;  the  pretended 
Deliverer*  arc  here  reduced  to  beg  and  pra>  tor  Amilancc. 


,(     *S5     ) 

you   have  been  difpofleffed   by  French  Deceit 
and  cheating  Tricks,  and  fecure  unto   you  a 
free  open  Trade  in  America,  from  the  Rifing 
unto  the  Setting  of  the  Sun.     It  is  very  well 
known  that  I   have  no  particular  Views  nor 
Deiîgn,  but  that  of  ferving  mutually  the  Inte- 
refts  of  the  King  of  England  your  Father,  and 
of  the  Six  Nations   and  their   Allies,  and   I 
promiie  you  to  be  your  Friend  and  Brother^, 
as  long  as  the  Sun  and  Moon  fhall  lad:. 
A  grand  Belt  of  Wampum. 
I  have  been  told  that  as  upon  the  foregoing 
Occafions,  you  had  fome  Prefents   from  us, 
fome  were  idle   enough  to  excite  your  young 
People  to  drink,  and  by  that  Means  made  no 
Account  of  what   they  gave  you.     To  pre- 
vent for  the  future  fuch  like  Proceedings,  I 
have  given  Orders,  by  threatn'mg  with  Death 
all  thofe  that  fhall  be  found  convicted  of  that 
Crime  ;  I  beg  you'll  fend  me  your  CornplairTts 
again  ft  all  fuch  as  will  act  in  the  like  Manner, 
and  as  a   Friend  and  Brother,  I  fhall  render 
you  ample  Juftice. 

•f*  Whence  come  the  Rights  of  the  Engliih 
%pon  the  Ohio,  if  they  poffefs  not  the  Lands 
'which  it  Waters  >  no  Qtberixife  than  as  Sovereigns 
Y  the  Iroquois. 


r 


(     ***     ) 

I  have  no  more  to  délire  but  to  fee  you 
receive  with  Pleafure  the  Prefents  which  are 
before  you,  and  to  fee  you  divide  them 
amongft  you,  according  to  your  Cuftom  and 
natural  Equity  ;  I  hope  they  will  be  agreeable; 
you  may  depend  upon  great  Rewards  from 
Time  to  Time  for  your  Services.  I  have 
ordered  Arms,  Powder  and  Shot,  to  be  de- 
livered to  fuch  of  your  Warriors  as  want 
them. 

My  Brethren,  I  have  been  informed  of  the 
perfidious  Conduct  of  the  French  towards  our 
deceafed  Brother  the  Half-King  \  and  to  con- 
vince you  how  far  I  am  fenfible,  as  well  as 
you,  of  his  ill  Treatment,  in  hopes  that  you 
would  willingly  join  with  me  to  revenge  him., 
I  cover  his  Death  with  this  BELT. 

My  Brethren,  Delâwares  and  Chauanons^^ 
you  are  to  blame  for  following  the  Counfel  of 
the  "French  laft  Autumn,  to  Murder  a  Number 
of  your  Brethren  the  Englijlo  in  their  Habita- 
tions in  Carolina,  I  am  very  well  perfuaded 
that  it  did  not  happen  from  an  Inclination 

natural 

-f  The  deputed  Iroquois,  before  'whom  Mr. 
Johnfon  Jpoke,  could  not  Anfwer  him  upon  thé 
Suggeftions  that  he  charges  to  the  French  in  thé 
eloquent  Apojirophe  which  he  makes  here  to  the 
Deiawares  and  Chauanons. 


(     257     ) 

natural  to  you,  but  only  by  the  Inftigation  of 
the  French  ;  therefore,  if  you  acknowledge 
your  Fault  and  that  you  are  openly  and  vo- 
luntarily refolved  ;o  join  with  me,  I  mall 
freely  forget  this  unhappy  Tranfgreffion,  aiid 
receive  you  ftill  as  Brethren  j  this  I  confirm 
unto  you  in  the  Name  and  as  the  Deputy  of 
the  King  your  Father,  with  this  String  of 
Wampum.  Signed,     Johnson. 

The  15th  of  May,    1755. 

Second  SPEECH. 
The  Speech  of  the  Honour abk  William  John- 
fon,  Efq-,  Superintendant  of  Indian  Afjairsy 
to  the  Warriors  of  the  Upper  and  Lower  Cafile 
of  the  Iroquois  Indians,  in  the  Prefence  of 
Lieutenant  Butler,  ç/'Rutherford'i  Company  > 
êf  Captain  Matthew  Farral,  of  Lieutenant 
John  Butler,  of  Mejfrs.  Daniel  Claufe, 
Peter  Warpalle,  Secretaries  for  Indian  Af- 
fair s  ^  William  Printu,  Jacob  Clement, 
Interpreters. 

Mv  Brethren  of  both  Cafile  s  of  the  Anies, 

1WIPE  away  all   Tears  from   your  Eyes 
and   clear  your   Throat,    that    you   may 
hear  and  fpeak  without  Conftraint  ;  I  rejoice 
to  fee  you  and  falute  you  with  all  my  Heart, 
Gives  a  String  of  Wampum, 
K  k 


(     *5S    ) 

I  délire   that  you  conform  to  what   I  de~k 
manded  of  you  in  a  Letter  which  I  wrote  to 
you  from  New-York    as   foon  as   I   returned 
from   Virginia^    wherein    I    pray'd    all  your 
Chiefs    and    Warriors    to"  wait    my    coming 
Home,  to    hear   News  and   be   informed  of 
the  Orders  which  I    have  received  from   his 
Excellency  General  Braddock  (the  great  War-  ,' 
rior)  whom   the  King  our  common  Father 
has  fent  to  this  Country,  with  a  great  Num- 
ber of  Troops,    of  great  Guns,    and  other  ? 
Implements  of  War,  to  protect  you  as  well  j 
as  his   Subjects  upon  this  Continent,  and  de-j 
fend  you  againft  all  the  Usurpations  and  Infults  j 
of  the  French. 

I  have  been  to  wait  upon  this  great  Man,  1 
along  with  the  Governors  of  Boftony  New- ] 
York,  Pennfyhania  and  Maryland^  we  had; 
alfo  there  the  Governor  of  Virgi?iia,  andj 
another  great  Man  who  in  this  Part  of  thej 
World  commands  all  the  Men  of  War  be- 
longing to  the  King.  In  the  Grand  Council] 
many  important  Affairs  have  been  deliberated,! 
among  which  the  Intereft  and  Safety  of  ourl 
Brethren  the  Six  Nations  and  their  Allie» 
were  confidered  with  great  Attention. 

My  Brethren,  the  Tree  which  you  and  thôi 
reft  of  the  Six  Nations  have  fo  often  and  earl 
neftly  defired  that  it  mould  be  replanted,  m 

grown 


(     259     ) 

grown  by  fuch  a  mighty  Hand  that  its  Roots 
penetrate   unto    the    Bottom    of  the    Earth, 
and    its    Branches     are    a     refre/hing   Shade 
to  cover  you  and  your  Allies;  as  I  am  to  ac- 
quaint you   that  agreeable  to  the   Inftruttions 
which   the  King  your   Father  has   given    to 
General    Bruddocky    I    am    nominated    to    be 
alone  Superintendant  over  all  the  Affairs  that 
(hall  concern  you  and  your  Allies  in  this  Part 
of  the  World,  I  invite  you  and  your  Brethren 
the  Six  United  Nations  and  your  Allies  to  af- 
femble  under  this  Tree,  where  you  may  freely 
open,  your  Hearts  and  heal    your  Wounds, 
and  at  the  fame  Time  I  tranfport  the  Shade 
of  that  Fire  which  was   in   Albany,  and  re- 
kindle the  Fire  of  Council  and  Friendfhip  in 
this  Place;  I  fliall  make  it  of  fuch  Wood  as 
'{hall  produce  the  greateft  Light   and  greateft 
Heat  :  I  hope  it  will  be  ferviceable  '  and  com- 
fortable to  all  thofe  who  fliall  come  to  light 
their  Pipes  at    it  and  that  the  fparkling  and 
flaming  Coals  thereof,  will  burn  all  thofe  who 
are  or  {hall  be  its  Enemies. 

I  hope  that  you  and  all  your  Brethren 
would  be  glad  to  encreafe  the  Luftre  and 
I  Splendor  of  this  Fire,  in  minding  and  keeping 
it  always  up,  applying  yourfelves  to  it  with 
that  Diligence  and  Zeal  as  may  derive  a 
Bleffing  from  it  not  only  upon  "you,  but 
K  k  2  upon 


(  26:°  ) 

upon  all  your  Pofterity.  To  obtain  and  afr 
certain  that  falutary  End,  it  is  abfolutely  ne- 
çeffary  that  you  extinguish  all  the  Fires 
kindled  by'  Means  of  Deceit  and  Ifraud 
and  not  natural,  which  light  but  to  deceive 
and  deftroy  you  and  yours. 

A    BELT. 
My  Brethren^ 

By  this  Belt  of  Wampurn,  I  cleanfe  the 
Council-Chamber, ,  to  the  End  that  there  be 
nothing  offenfive  therein,  and  I  hope  that 
you  will  take  care  that  no  evil  Spirit  creep 
in  among  us,  that  nothing  may  interrupt  our 
Harmony. 

Gives    a  String  of  Wampum. 
My  Brethren, 

I  am  concern'd  to  fee  at  my  Return,  that 
many  of  the  two  Villages  defire  to  go  to 
Canada-,  I  fhould  be  much  furprized  that 
you  who  have  been  our  moft  faithful  Friends 
and  neareft  Neighbours  would  upon  any 
Occafion  fhew  your  Defire  to  be  deceived 
by  the  wicked  Artifices  of  the  French,  who 
are  fo  well  known,  and  of  whom  you  have 
had  fuch  fatal  Experience,  efpecially  when 
that  reftlefs  and  perfidious  Nation  breaks  the 
moft  folemn  Treaties,  and  violates  all  the 
Obligations  of  Honour  and  Juftice  ;  this 
would  be  the  moft  furprizing  Thing  in  the 
'  World  i 


(  tfl  ) 

World  j  but  I  hope  that  what  I  have  been 
told  upon  that  Subject,  has  no  Foundation. 
I  defire  and  infift  that  none  of  you  upon 
any  Pretence  whatfoever  have  any  Corre- 
fpondence  with  the  French*  nor  receive  none 
of  their  Emiflaries,  nor  go  to  Canada  with- 
out my   Knowledge  and  Approbation. 

Upon  this  Condition  I  give  you  a  BELT. 

I  intend  immediately  to  call  your  other 
Brethren  of  the  Six-Nations  to  this  prefent 
Fire,  I  hope  that  you'll  come  here  along 
with  them,  I  (hall  deliver  a  Speech  of  his 
Excellency  General  Braddock,  accompanied 
with  Prefents  for  you,  which  the  great 
King   your  Father  has  fent  by  that  Warrior. 

After  feme   Moments  of  Confutation  between 
them,  Abraham,  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  the   Upper 
Village,  got   up,  and  (poke  thus  for  the  Two. 
My  Brother, 

You  have  call'd  us  to  let  us  know  the 
Tidings  you  have  brought  with  you,  and  we 
have  underftood  all  that  you  have  faid,  we 
defer  until  the  Six-Nations  are  all  affembled 
here  to  give  an  exaâ:  Account  of  all  Af- 
fairs. 

Gives  a  String  of  Wampum. 

My  Brother,  we  Thank  you  for  being  fo 
willing  to  wipe  the  Tears  from  our  Eyes 
and  to  cieanfe    our  Throats  an4    this  Floor  : 

Wc 


(       2Ô2       ) 

We  do  as  much  with  this  String  of  Wampum, 
Gives  a  String  of  Wampum. 

My  Brother,  to  comply  with  you  Requeft 
we  have  here  met  together,  and  with  great 
Attention  heard  all  that  you  have  faid  ;  we 
thank  you  for  your  kind  Information  ;  we 
are  charm'd  to  fee  you  again  once  more, 
and  greet  you  with  this  String  of  Wampum. 
They  give  it. 

My  Brother,  We  have  often  repreiented 
to  our  Father  the  great  King  that  the  Tree 
advanced,  we  are  very  glad  that  our  Father 
has  comply 'd  with  our  Demand,  and  thank 
him  for  it  moft  fincerely  ;  we  have  had  the 
greatefl  Satisfaction  to  hear  all  that  you  have 
faid  concerning  that  Tree,  we  fincerely  wifh 
that  it  may  continue  fuch  as  you  defcribed 
in  your  Speech,  and  we  are  very  ienfible 
of  all  you  faid   upon    the  Subject. 

My  Brother,  you  have  told  us  that  the 
Tree  which  (haded  us,  is  now  replanted 
here,  you  made  it  the  Shade  of  Albany,  and 
you  have  rekindled  here  the  Fire  of  Pru- 
dence and  Friendfhip,  which  muft  be  made 
of  good  everlafting  Wood,  fo  that  it  fhall  be 
always  clear,  and  give  comfortable  and  falu^ 
tary  Heat,  to  all  that  will  approach  it,  as 
Friends,  whilft  it  fhall  burn  and  inflame  a- 
gainft    its    Enemies;    our   firft  Fathers  had 

kindled 


(     263      ) 

kindled  uiis  Fire  firft  at  Onontague  and  carried 
the  fmall  Coals  of  it  to  rekindle  another  at 
the  Habitation  of  g-uiderf.  This  Fire  never 
burnt  clear  and  was  almoft  extinguished;  we 
are  very  well  fatisfied  to  hear  that  you  have 
rekindled   it. 

My  Brother,  you  have  invited  us  all  and 
our  Brethren  the  Six  United  Nations  and  their 
Allies  to  come  and  fit  under  that  Tree 
you  fpoke  of,  there  to  light  our  Pipes  a: 
the  Fire  of  Prudence,  and  that  we  and  they 
ihould  endeavour  to  preferve  it,  we  don't 
doubt  but  that  they  would  be  glad  to  fee 
it  planted  here,  having  all  defired  to  fee  it, 
but  wê  muft  delay  until  all  the  Na- 
tions be  affembled  here  in  a  Body  for 
to  anfwer  that  Article  of  your  Speech. 

My  Brother,  we  thank  you  for  having 
cleanfed  this  Council  Chamber  and  for  moving 
all  that  might  be  offenfive  therein,  you  may 
affure  yourfelf  that  we  will  do  all  we  can 
to  anfwer  your  Intention  and  avoid  all  that 
might  tend  to  trouble  or  diftuib  our  mutual 
Harmony. 

My  Brother,  you  have  told  us  that  you 
had  been  informed  that  fome  of  us  were  go- 


*f  This  is  Albany  in  the  Indian  Language, 


(     264     ) 

ing  to  the  French,  and  you  put  us  in  Mind 
of  their  Conduâ:  towards  our  Anceftors, 
whom  we  remember  very  well,  for  their 
Bones  are  yet  to  be  feen:  We  know  that 
the  French  arc  falfe  and  deceitful,  they  have 
given  us  very  fine  Words,  and  their  Let- 
ters were  fweet,  but  their  Hearts  were  full 
of  Poifon  for  us  ;  you  know  our  Affairs,  my 
Brother,  as  well  as  we,  and  that  the  reft  of 
the  Six-Nations  are  jealous  of  us,  becaufe 
we  ufed  the  Hatchet  laft  War  againft  the 
French ',  {hall  we  be  now  accounted  falfe  and 
deceitful  ?  no,  you  may  be  aflured,  that  we 
will  not  go  to  Canada  upon  any  requeft 
of  the  French »,  becaufe  we  are  not%  much 
in  their  Friendship  ;  alfo,  my  Brother,  do  not 
believe  all  the  Reports  that  may  be  made 
to  you  upon  that  Subject. 

My  Brother,  we  thank  you  yet  once  more 
for  all  you  have  told  us,  we  have  already 
faid  that  it  was  neceffary  the  Six-Nations 
were  aflerabled  here  to  give  a  pofitive  An- 
fwer,  we  thank  you  for  the  Invitation  you 
gave  us  to  come  here  with  the  reft  of  our 
Brethren,  we  will  not  fail  to  meet  them  here. 

The  Chief  Mohowck  (Anies)  of  the  Upper 
Village  having  required  to  have  a  Conference 
with  Colonel  Johnfon,  in   the  Prefence  of  the 

Secretary 


(     265     ) 

Secretary  Jor  Indian  Affairs,  and  the  two  In- 
terpreters, Abraham  /poke  in  the   Name   of  the 
Chief,   and  /aid  : 
My  Brother, 

When  you  were  at  New-York,  you  told 
us  that  our  Chiefs  and  Warriors  fliould  reft 
on   their  Mats,    and  wait    there    until  your 

Return  ;  which    we   have  done  : And 

why  mould  v/e  not,  feeing  we  have  at  all 
Times  appeared  ready  to  oblige  you  ?  and  we 
are  the  more  particularly  difpos'd  te  obey 
you,  fince  you  tell  us  that  you  are  a  Tree 
replanted,  in  order  to  put  us  under  your 
Shade,  and  we  don't  doubt  but  that  our  Bre- 
thren of  the  other  Five-Nations  are  all  difr 
pofed  to  obey  you. 
My  Brother, 

It  is  very  true  that  we  have  been  always 
obedient  and  obliging  to  you,  and  feeing  you 
told  us  that  you  would  have  us  reft  in  the 
Cabin,  our  young  Men  being  ready  to  go 
a  Hunting,  being  detain'd  by  your  Orders, 
have  nothing  to  fabfift  on,  they  have  begg'd 
our  Chiefs  to  reprefent  their  Condition  to  you, 
they  want  every  Thing,  not  having  been  a 
Hunting,  and  to  pray  you  to  give  them  fome 
Powder  and  Shot,  to  kill  fome  Game  for 
their  Subfiftance,  as  it  will  be  feme  Time  be- 
fore the  Arrival  of  the  other  Five-Nation^  and 
L  1  all 


(     266     ) 

all  of  us  receive  the  Prefents  fent  us 
by  the  King  our  Father  -,  whilft  we  wait 
we  pray  you  to  give  us  what  is  purely  nc- 
ceffary  for  us. 
My  Brother  y 
As  we  forefee  the  hard  Seafons  are  ap- 
proaching, we  renew  the  Prayers  to  you  we 
often  made  to  the  Government  to  build  a  Place 
for  the  Safety  of  our  Wives  and  Children  ; 
we  hope  you   will  actually  execute  it. 

Colonel  Johnfon'x  Anfwer. 

Brethren^ 

I  AM  perfectly  well  convinced  of  your 
good  Difpofitions  for  me,  and  of  your 
Complaifance  at  all  Times  to  liften  to  my 
Words,  and  to  do  what  I  demand  of  you  j  it 
is  that  which  has  engaged  me  to  take  your 
Affairs  in  my  Consideration  :  The  frefh  Proofs 
you  give  me  of  your  Friendfhip  and  Regard 
towards  me,  will  enable  me  to  ferve  your 
Interefte  effectually  and  to  my  own  Satis- 
faction. I  am  fenfible  I  have  done  you  great 
Hurt,  as  alfo  to  your  young  Men,  for  detain- 
ing them  at  this  Time  upon  their  Mats; 
wherefore  I  readily  grant  you  what  you  re- 
quire of  me,  and  will  .give  you  Powder  and 
Bullets. 

Before 


(     *67     ) 

Before  I  left  New-Tor  k,  I  reprefented  be- 
fore your  Brother  the  Governor  the  Neceffity 
of  Building  a  fafe  Retreat  for  your  Families, 
;  and  I  have  the  Pleafure  to  acquaint  you,  that 
he  hath  given  me  a  full  Power  to  do  it,  and 
the  Workmen  fhall  go  about  it  as  foon  as 
poffible. 

May  ijth,   1755.        Signed,     Johnson. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  Johnfon,  to  Mr. 
Arent  Stevens,  the  Indian  Interpreter  for 
the  Province. 

ACCORDING  to  the  Inftrudtions  given 
to  General  Braddock  by  his  Majefty, 
he  ^as  been  pleafed  to  entruft  me  with  the 
fole  Direction  and  Management  of  Indian 
Affairs,  to  wit,  for  the  Six  United  Nations  and 
their  Allies  ;  you  are  therefore  to  give  Atten- 
tion and  follow  the  Orders  you  fhall  receive 
from  me  on  that  Head. 

I  fend  you  this  Letter  by  James  Clement, 
with  two  Belts  of  Wampum,  both  for  the 
Five  Upper  Nations,  which  you  are  to  give  the  in 
in  my  Name,  and  acquaint  them  that  the 
Troops  who  are  now  on  their  March,  and 
thofe  who  may  March  hereafter  for  Chuaguen, 
are  to  reinforce  that  Garrifon,  and  to  proteel: 
L  1  2  it 


(     263     ) 

it  againft  any  Act  of  Hoftility  from  the  French, 
who  faid  that  it  belonged  neither  to  us  nor  to 
the  Six  Nations,  and  that  they  would  pull 
it  down. 

At  my  firft  Arrival  I  fent  a  String  of  Wam- 
pum, but  left  that  fhould  not  be  fufficient,  I 
how  fend  this  Belt.  If  you  find  that  the 
Indians  are  difquieted  or  alarmed  at  the 
March  of  thefe  Troops  through  their  Country, 
ihould  it  proceed  from  their  Jealoufy,  or  the 
deceitful  Infinuations  of  French  EmirTaries, 
you  fhall  affure  them  in  my  Name,  that  they/ 
are  deftined  for  the  Safety  and  Advantage  of 
the  Six  Nations  and  their  Allies  :  You  fhall 
exhort  them  to  give  no  Heed  to  any  Lies 
which  the  French  might  tell  them  on  that 
Account,  whofe  Aim  and  Defire  is  to.  take 
both  us  and  them  while  we  are  afleep,  tQ  cut 
us  off  from  the  Face  of  the  Earth;  that  they 
know  very  well  the  only  Means  to  obtain 
their  faid  Defire,  is  to  trouble  and  deftroy  the 
brotherly  Love  and  Confidence  which  have 
fp  long  and  fo  happily  fubfifted  between  us. 
You  fhall  make  ufe  of  Arguments  to  that 
Purpofe,  or  fuch  like,  as  Circumftance§  will 
require. 

The  other  Belt  which  I  fend  you,  is  to 
inform  them  of  the  Commiffion  which  the 
King  their  Father  has  given   me,  granted  at 

their 


(    *69    ) 

their  repeated  Inftances  ;  and  that  in  Execu- 
tion of  General  Braddock's  Orders,  by  this 
Belt  I  invite  and  call  the  Six  Nations  to  come 
to  me,  together  with  their  Allies,  that  I  have 
kindled  at  my  Houfe  a  Fire  of  Council  and 
Friendship,  and  replanted  the  fhady  Tree, 
which  fhall  fhclter  them  and  all  thofe  who 
will  come  under  it  ;  that  I  have  a  Preient  to 
make  them  from  the  King  their  Father,  much 
good  News  to  tell  them,  and  a  Council  to 
hold  concerning  feveral  Affairs  of  the  greateft 
Conlequence,  relating  to  their  Happinefs  and 
Well-being.  If  you  find  that  any  French 
Emiflary  has  been  tampering  with  them,  in 
order  to  difwade  them  from  coming  to  me; 
you  fhall  employ  your  beft  and  moft  proper 
Arguments  to  diffipate  thofe  Impreffions,  and 
mall  infift  upon  their  Obedience,  and  upon 
the  Condefcenfion  due  from  them  to  us.  If 
they  fay  they  are  planting  their  Corn,  and 
mould  they  come  now,  they  would  lofe  their 
Harveft  and  want  Provifions  -,  you  mail  affure 
them  that  I  will  take  Care  of  them,  and  will 
make  good  to  them  all  their  Lofs  occafioned 
thereby:  But  be  fure  to  aft  with  Prudence 
upon  that  Article,  and  Promife  with  Pre- 
caution. 

I  have  had  a  Conference  at  both  the  M?- 
hanvk    Towns,    they  were  fatisfied  with  the 

two 


(       270       ) 

two  Belts,  and  have  promifcd  to  join  me  here 
whenever  the  other  Nations  come  down  ; 
wherefore  urge  them  to  it  as  much  as  you 
can. 

I  have  fent  you  fome  Goods  by  Mr.  Cle- 
ment, make  ufe  of  them  as  you  fee  Caufe  ; 
and  when  you  have  brought  the  Indians  to 
the  German  Flats,  you  will  find  Provifions  at 
my  Houfe,  of  which  I  defire  you  to  keep 
Account.  /  am,  Tours,  &c. 

Signed,      William  Johnson. 

A  true  Copy  of  what  was  done  by  the 
Honorable  William  Johnfon,  Efq;  and  Peter 
Warpall\,  Secretary  for  Indian  Affairs. 

I   The  Subfcriber,    of  the   Superior    Council 
of  Quebec,  do  certify,    That  I  have  tranf- 
lated,    &c. 

NUMB.  XV. 
A  Letter  written  by  Sir  William  Johnfon, 
to  different  Governors  co?icerning  the  Plan  of 
the  Expedition  againjl  the  Fort  at  Crown- 
Point. 

New-York,  May  5,   1755. 

AS  I  am  nominated  the  Commander  in 
Chief   of   the   Colonies   Forces,  with 
Regard  to  thé   Expedition  propofed  againft 

Crown* 
■j-  Suppofed  to  be  Wraxall. 


(     Vjx     ) 

Crown-Point,    I  think  it  my  Duty  to  endea- 
vour all  I  can,  to  remove  all  the  Obftacles 
that  might  come  in   the  Way  of  the  prefent 
Service,  and  prevei  \  every  Thing  that  might 
not  tend  to  the  SucCefs  of  this  Undertaking  : 
As  a  Train  of  Artillery  is  clTentially  neceflary, 
that  nothing  can  be  done  without  it,  and  the 
Eaftern  Colonies  are  to  provide  it,  I  don't 
doubt  of  your  doing  all   in   your   Power  to 
haften  all   Things   on    that  Head  ;  that  our 
March  may  not  be  delayed,  and  that  we  may 
not  tarry  longer  at  Albany  than   is   necefTary, 
which  might  confirm  the  Enemy  in  the  Suf- 
fi cion  of  an  Attack  if  they  fhould  unfortunately 
have  Knowledge  of  it.     I  much   fear   I   mail 
want  proper  Perfons  to  manage  the  Train  of 
Artillery,  wherefore  if  you  have  in  your  Pro- 
vince any  Perfon   capable  of  being  an  Engi- 
neer er  Bombardeer,  or  any  other  fit  Perfon 
to  manage  the  Train  of  Artillery,  I  defire  you 
would  engage  them  into  the  Service  according 
to  the   Knowledge   you   may  have    of  their 
Capacity  -,  you   muft  know   alfo,  we   want  a 
great  Number   of  Boats  for    transporting  the 
Troops,  befides   thofe   that  are  neceflary  for 
the     Train   of    Artillery,    Ammunition   and 
Baggage  ;  every  Battoe  muft  carry  five  Men  ; 
we  have  already  thofe  which  this  Government 

was 


(       2?2       ) 

was  to  provide  us;  as  I  imagine  the  other 
Colonies  are  to  get  thofe  Battoes  (which  they 
are  to  furnifh)  built  either  here  or  in  the 
Jerfeys,  I  look  upon  it  as  t  Thing  impoffible 
to  build  a  fufficient  Number  in  Time,  unlefs 
they  fend  us  Workmen  to  help  us. 

/  am,  &c. 

Signed,     William  Johnson. 

I  The  Subfcriber,  one  of  the  Superior  Council 
of  Quebec,  do  certify,  That  I  have  trans- 
lated,   &c. 

NUMB.    XVI. 
A    Proclamation    directed    by    Order    of 
Charles  Lawrence,  Efq-,  Governor  of  Aca- 
dia, to  the  French  Inhabitants  of  the  Neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Ifthmus  and  the  Banks  of 
the  River  St.  John. 

By  the  KING. 

BY  Order  of  his  Excellency  Charles  Law- 
rence, Efquire,  Lieutenant-Governor,  and 
Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Province  of 
Nova-Scotia,  or  Acadia,  &c. 


A 


i     -71     ) 

A    PROCLAMATION. 

To  the  Inhabitants  and  ethers  the  Natives  of 
Chignedo,  Bay- Vert,  Tintamar,  Chipou- 
die,  River  St.  John,  and  their  Dependencies, 
and  to  all  ethers  rj:ho  have  not  as  yet  fub mil- 
ted them/elves. 

FORASMUCH  as  the  greateft  Part  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Piaces  afcrefaid  and 
others,  have  not  as  yet  [ubmitted  themj 'elves  to 
the  King  of  Great-Britain  *  -,  bat  on  the 
contrary  have  behaved  themielves  in  a  Manner 
contrary  to  all  Order  and  Loyalty  with  Regard 
to  their  own  Sovereign. 

Thefe  are  therefore   to  Order  them  to  re- 
pair  immediately    to    my    Camp    to    fubmit 
themfelves  ;    bringing    with    them     all  their 
Arms,  Mufkets,    Swords,  Piftols,  and    every 
other  Infiniment  of  War  -,    in  Difobediencc 
whereof  they  fhall  be  treated  as  Rebels. 
Given  at  our  Camp  of  Chigneéto, 
this  i ph  c/'May,    1755. 
Signed,     Robert  Monckton. 

*  Thi-  i,  remarkable,,  how  came  it  to'paf»,  that  ever  Çityis 
the  Treaty  of-  Utrfcht,  ù  never  entered  rnto  tncii*  Mi:ia  to 
require  chis  Submi/Tioii  '• 

END  cf  the  fi-Jl  PAR7. 

M  m  A 


A 

COLLECTION 

o  F 

TITERS,        \ 

Tending  to  Vindicate  the  Conduce  of  the  i 
Court  of  France,  in  Anfwer  to  the  Obfer-  ! 
vations  feat  by  the  Englijh  Miniftry  to  the  ] 
feveral  Courts  of  Europe. 

PART    the    Second. 

NUMB.    I. 
A  Memorial  delivered  by  the  Duke  dc  Mire- 
poix    to   Sir  Thomas    Robinfon,  January 
the  15th,   1755. 

AS  an  immediate  Prevention  of  the 
Çonfequences  which  may  arifè 
from  the  unexpe&ed  Differences 
in  the  feveral  Colonies  of  North- 
America  and  the  Hoftilities  which  attended 
them,  is  a  Matter  of  the  utmoft  Importance, 
the  King  propofes  to  his  Britannic  Majefty, 
that,previous  to  anEnquiry  into  the  Foundation 
and  Circumftance*  of  this  Diiptfte,    pofitivc 

Orders 


(     *7S     ) 

Orders  mould  be  fent  to  our  refpeftive  Gover- 
nors, to  forbid  their  engaging  from  henceforth 
in  any  newEnterprize,  or  committing  any  A  ftp 
of  Violence  :  On  the  contrary,  to  enjoin 
them  without  Delay  to  eftablifh  Matters  in  the 
fame  Situation  with  Refpeft  to  the  Territory 
of  Ohio  or  La  Be/le-Rivicre,  in  which  they 
were,  or  ought  to  have  been,  before  the  hit 
War  ;  and  that  the  refpeftive  Pretenlions 
fhould  be  amicably  fubmitted  to  the  Corn- 
miflion  appointed  at  Pan's,  to  the  End  that 
the  Differences  between  the  two  Courts  may 
be  terminated  by  a  /pcedy  Reconciliation. 

The  King  is  likewife  deiirous,  in  order  to 
remove  every  uneafy  Impreffion,  and  to  make 
his  Subjects  perfectly  happy  in  the  Enjoyment 
of  the  ineftimable  Bleftings  of  Peace,  that  his 
Bri tannic  Majefly  would  be  open  and  expli- 
cit with  Regard  to  the  Caufe  an  Deftination 
of  the  Armament  laft  railed  in  England, 

The  King  has  too  great  a  Confidence  in 
the  Uprightnefs  of  his  Britannic  Majefcy's  In- 
tentions, not  to  expeft  that  he  will  give  his 
free  and  ready  Concurrence  to  Propofitjons 
fo  conducive  to  the  Eftablifh  ment  of  Peace, 
to  the  Support  of  the  public  Tranquility,  and 
&  good  Harmony  between  our  two  Courts. 
Signed,  Duke  de  Mirepoix. 

M  m  2  NUMB.  II. 


(     *76     ) 

NUMB.     IL 
ffle  Answer  to  the  joregoing  Memorial,  de- 
livered by  Order  of  the  Englifh  Court  to  the  ]. 
Duke  de  Mirepoix,  January  22^/,   1755. 

THE  King  has  beheld  with  Concern  the 
unexpected  Differences  in  North-Amek 
rica,  and  the  Hoftiiities  with  which  they  havs 
been  accompanied  :  Kis  Majefty  is  equally 
defirous,  with  the  mod  Chrifnan  King,  to  put 
an  End  to  them;  demanding  nothing  but 
what  is  founded  on  Treaties,  and  is  agree- 
able to  the  jnft  Rights  and  PorTefTions  of  his 
Crown,  and  the  Protection  of  his  Subjects  in 
that  Part  of  the  World. 

The  King  is  of  Opinion  that  the  Propofal 
communicated  by  his  Excellency  the  Duke 
de  Mifepoix  is  not  exprefs  as  to  that  Matter  : 
Ncverthelefs,  to  manifeft  his  Defire  of  main- 
taining the  moll  perfect  Peace,  Union  and 
Harmony  with  his  moft  Chrijlian  Majefty, 
and  to  the  End  that  Matters  may  be  re-efra* 
blifhed  on  an  equitable  Footing,  his  Majefty 
Propofes,  that  the  Poffeffion  of  the  Country 
along  the  River  Ohio  or  Belle-Riviere,  mould 
be  reftored  to  the  fame  Condition  as  it  actur- 
ally  was  in  at  the  Conclufion  of  the  Treaty 
of  Utrecht,  and  according  to  the  Stipulations. 

made 


(     *77     ) 

made  in  the  fame  Treaty,  as  it  has  been  re- 
newed by  that  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  and  more- 
over, that  the  other  Poffeffions  in  North- Ame- 
rica be  reftored  to  the  fame  Condition  in 
which  they  were  at  the  Conclufion  of  the  faid 
Treaty  of  Utrecht,  and  agreeable  to  the  Cef- 
fions  and  Stipulations  made  by  that  Treaty. 
And  then  his  Majeily  wiil  be  able  to  treat  of 
the  Method  of  inftrudting  the  refpective  Go- 
vernors, to  reftrain  them  from  engaging 
henceforward  in  any  new  Entcrprizes,  or 
committing  any  Hoftilities  ;  and  the  Préten- 
dons, on  both  Sides,  may  then  be  fubmitted 
to  be  fpeedily  and  finally  difcufTed,  and  ami- 
cably adjufted  between  the  two  Courts. 

Such  are  the  Sentiments  of  his  JVIajefly  : 
The  Defence  of  his  Rights  and  Poffeffions, 
and  the  Protection  of  his  Subjects,  have  been 
his  fole  Motives  for  fending  an  Armament 
into  North- America,  which  he  profeiles  to 
have  done  without  an  Intention  to  injure  any 
Power  that  exijls,  or  to  engage  in  any  Thing 
that  has  a  Tendency  to  violate  the  general  Peace\\. 
To    be   convinced   of  this,    the   Nature  and 

Extent 

|  This  formal  Declaration  Jkould  be  compared 
with  the  In/lruÛions  given  by  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jefty  to  General  Braddock,  and  with  the  Flan 
cf  Operation  contained  in  CeL  Naoicr'i  Letter, 


(    *7*     ) 

Extent  of  that  Armament  need  only  to  be 
confîdered:  And  the  King  does  not  doubt  but 
that  his  moft  Chrijiian  Majefty,  according  to 
the  well  known  Uprightnefs  of  his  Inten- 
tions, will  be  as  open  and  explicit,  with 
RefpecT:  to  his  great  naval  Preparations  at 
Breji  and  Toulon. 

Signed,     T.  Robinson. 

NUMB.     III. 
Reply  to  the  Memorial  of  Sir  Thomas  Ro^ 
binfon,  fent  by  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  Fe- 
bruary 6th,   1755. 

THE  King  is  too  well  convinced  of  the 
fincere  Difpofition  of  the  King  of  GreaU 
Britain,  to  maintain  a  good  Underftanding 
between  the  two  Crowns,  as  well  as  the 
public  Tranquility,  not  to  think  that  his  Bri- 
tamiic  Majefty  views  with  Concern  the  Dan- 
eers  which  threaten  both  the  one  and  the 
other,  through  the  unexpected  Difputes  in 
North- America,  on  the  River  Ohio. 

It  was  the  fame  good  Difpofition  that  in- 
duced his  Majefty  to  propofe,  by  his  Am- 
baflador  at  the  Court  of  London,  that,  previous 
to  an  Examination  of  the  Rife  of  this  Difpute, 
and  an  Enquiry  into  the  Means  of  bringing  it 
to  an  amicable  Conclusion,  the  two    Kings 

fiiould 


(     279     ) 

lhoukl  iiTuc  pofitire  Orders  to  their  refpe&ive 
Governors  in  that  Part  of  America,  to  abftain 
from  all  Acls  of  Violence,  and  from  engaging 
in  any  new  Enterprize,  and  to  put  Things 
into  the  fame  Condition  which  they  were, 
or  ought  to  have  been  in,  before  the  laft 
War. 

If  his  Britannic  Majefty  thought  this  Pro- 
pofal,  at  firft  Sight,  not  Sufficiently   exprefs, 
with  Regard  to  the  Matter  in  Difpute  between 
the  two  Courts  ;  we    are  perfuaded    that  he 
will  alter  his   Opinion  when  he  reflects,  that 
France  is  entirely  unacquainted  with  his  Pre- 
tentions ;  that  iince   the  Year  1679,  in  which 
La  Belle-Riviere  was  difcovered  by  the  French^ 
the  Englijh  have  had  no  Poiîèffion  there  either 
in  Facl    or  Claim  ;  and  that  the  Treaty    of 
Utrecht,  the  Stipulations  of  which  the  Engli/Jj 
Court    feem    to    infill:   upon,  has    not    made 
-even   the  lead  Mention  of  that  Affair.     The 
Propofals  offered  to  his  Britannic  Majefty  are 
entirely  confident  with  the  Engagements  en- 
tered into  at   the  Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle, 
with  the  Meafures  that  have  been  taken  iince 
that  Epocha,  and  efpecially  with  the  Condi- 
tions required   by  the  Englifo  themf elves  in 
the  Years  1750  and  1751,  and  readily  granted 
by  his   Majefty,  on  Account  of  the  Differ- 
ences 


,     (    280    ) 

cnces  which  arofe  at  that  Time  concerning 
the  Frontier  Boundary  of  Nova-Scotia  and 
Canada. 

In  Confequence  of  thefe  R.eafons  and  En- 
gagements, his  Majefty  propofes  : 

\fty  That  the  two  Kings  mould  give  Or- 
ders to  their  refpective  Governors  to  abftain 
from  all  Acts  of  Hoftility  and  Invafion. 

2d,  To  eftablifh  Matters  in  the  fame  Situ- 
ation throughout  North- America  in  which 
they  were,  or  ought  to  have  been,  before  the 
laft  War,  agreeable  to  the  9th  Article  of  the 
Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

%d,  That  agreeable  to  the  18th  Article  of 
the  fame  Treaty,  his  Britannic  Majefty  mould 
make  known  his  Pretenfions,  and  the  Foun- 
dation on  which  they  are  built,  to  the  Com- 
miffion  appointed  at  Paris,  and  that  the 
Miniflers  of  the  two  Courts  mould  be  autho- 
rized to  enter  upon  a  Negotiation,  in  order 
to  difcover  the  Means  of  bringing  the  Difpute 
to  an  amicable  Conclufion. 

It  is  with  a  Confidence,  which  Conditions 
fo  juft  and  reaionable  ought  to  raife  in  the 
King,  that  he  propofes  them  to  the  King  of 
JLngland. 

His  Majefty  has  fo  much  the  more  Reafon 
to  expect  that  they  will  be  accepted,  as  he  is 
convinced  that  his  Brita?inic  Majefty  is  moved 

with 


(       28ï       ) 

with  the  fame  Difpofition,  that  he  himfclf  is 
to  deliver  his  Subjects  from  the  Trouble  and 
Confufion,  which,  by  the  Opporition  of  In- 
terefts,  the  complex  State  of  Affairs  and  the 
Nature  of  Engagements  and  Treaties,  may 
prove  lb  dangerous  to  the  Peace  of  the  two 
Crowns,  as  well  as  that  of  Europe. 

With  Refpedt  to  the  Armament  which  the 
King  is  providing,  the  Court  of  England  is 
capable  of  feeing  into  the  Occafion  of  it,  as 
the  Preparations  which  that  Court  has  pub- 
lifhed  to  all  Europe  and  in  Part  executed; 
have  rendered  theie  Precautions  neceffary  on 
the  Side  of  France.  But  his  Majefty  exprefly 
declares,  -j-  That  the  Preparations  which  are 
making  on  his  Side,  have  nothing  cjfenfive  i?i 
View,  but  folely  the  Defence  of  his  Pofleftions* 
and  the  Rights  of  his  Crown; 

NUMB.     IV. 
Scheme  of  a  preliminary  Convention ,  prcpofed 
by  Order  of  his  mojl  Chriftian  Majefty    to  the 
Court  of  London. 

^yHE     Differences    which   have    rifen    in 

JL     North-America,  fince  the   Peace    figned 

at  Aix-la-Chapelle    the  18th  of  October  1748, 

between  the  Subje&s  of  their  Mod  Chriftian 

N  n  jnq 

.  t  The  two  V  •  fee,  have  made  the  fame  D  c 

It  is  left  to  Europe  to  judge  which  et  the  t-vu  is  .'nc^je. 


(     282     ) 

and   Britannic   Majefties,    having   occasioned 
Hoftilities  on  both  Sides    contrary  to  the  In-* 
tention  of  their  Majefties,  the   Confequences 
of  which  it  is  of  the    utrnoft  Importance  to 
fupprefs   and   prevent;  their  Majefties  moved 
by  the  fame  good  Difpofition  to  reftore  Tran^ 
quility  to  that  Part  of  the  new  World,  and  to 
ftrengthen  more  and  more  the  Friendfhip  and 
good   Underftanding    which    happily    fubiifts 
between  them,  have  refolved  to  take,  in  Con- 
cert, fuch  Meafures  as  are  moft  effectual  and 
expedient   for  the  Attainment  of  the  good 
Ends   they  have  in  View.     In  Confequence 
of  this,  they  have  authorized  the    Minifters 
whofe   Names  are  under-written,  having  in- 
verted them  with  the  full  Powers    neceffary 
for  that  Purpofe,  to  agree  upon  the  prelimi- 
nary and  provilional  Conditions   contained  in 
the  following  Articles» 

Article    I. 

THEIR  Moft  Chriftian  and  Britannic 
Majefties  oblige  themfelve s  to  fend,  im- 
mediately after  Exchanging  the  Ratification 
of  the  prefent  Convention,  efpecial  Orders 
to  their  refpeclive  Governors  in  America^ 
to  fupprefs  all  Hoftilities  between  the  Two 
Nations;  z  Duplicate  of  which  Order  mail 
be  delivered  on  both  Sides,  with  the  Rati- 
fications. 


(     *83     ) 

fications  of  the  prefent  Convention,  as  well 
to  the  Minifters  of  his  Moft  Chriftian  Ma* 
jefty,  as  to  thoteofhis  Britannic  Majefty. 

The  Subjefts  of  their  Moft  Chriftian  and 
Britannic  Majefties  fhall  evacuate  all  the 
Country  rttuate  between  the  River  Ohio, 
and  the  Mountains  which  bound  Virginia* 
and  fhall  feverally  retire,  viz.  the  French  be- 
yond the  faid  River  Ohio,  and  the  Englijh 
on  this  Side  the  laid  Mountains  ;  fo  that 
all  the  Territory  which  lies  between  the  faid 
River  and  Mountains,  fhall  be  look'd  upon 
as  neutral,  during  the  Continuance  of  the 
prefent  Convention  ->  and  ail  Grants,  if  any 
there  be,  which  have  been  made  by  either 
of  the  Tïvo  Nations,  on  the  faid  Territory, 
fhall    be   coniidered   as  null  and  void, 

III. 

In  Order  the  better  to  fecure  the  Exe- 
cution of  the  iirft  Articles  of  the  prefent 
Convention,  and  to  prevent  every  Occafion 
of  new  Differences,  the  refpedtive  Subjects 
of  their  Moft  Chriftian  and  Britannic  Ma- 
jefties  fhall  not,  during  the  Continuance 
of  the  prefent  Convention,  frequent  the  faid 
Territory  fituate  between  the  River  Ohio  and 
the  faid  Mountains,  under  Pretext  of  Com- 
merce, or  Paflage  thro'  the  fame;  both 
N  n  2  which 


. (        234       ) 

which  arc  equally   prohibited    to     the   5%« 
Nat  ions  y  during  the    lame  Space  of  Time. 

IV. 

Agreeable  to  the  IXth  Article  of  the  Trea- 
ty of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  all  Things  ihall  be 
reftored  to  the  fame  Condition  in  North- 
America,  in  which  they  were  of  ought  to 
have  been,  fince  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht  :  In 
Confequence  of  which,  all  Forts,  which  have 
been  built  by  either  Nation  fin  ce  that  Mr  a, 
fhall  be  deftroyed,  as  well  upon  the  faid  Ter-^ 
ritory  of  Ohio,  as  in  every  other  Part  of 
North-America  which  is  in  Diiputc  between 
the    Two   Nations, 

V. 

The  prêtent  preliminary  Convention  mail 
take  Place  but  for  two  Years,  to  commence 
from  the  Day  of  the  Exchange  of  thefe 
Ratifications  :  That  Space  of  Time  appear- 
ing fufficient  to  terminate,  by  an  amicable 
Reconcilation,  all  the  Difputes  relating  to 
North-America,  which  might  hereafter  oc- 
cafion  any  new  Broils  between  the  Subjects 
of  the  two  Powers- 

VI. 

Their   Moft  Chriftian  and  Brita?7?iic  Ma- 

jeffies  engage  to  deliver,  from  Time  to  Time, 

pell    to  their    refpective   Minifter  at  Lon- 

n  to   their  ComrnifTaries  at  Paris,  fuch 

Orders, 


(     *85     ) 

Orders  and  Instructions  as  arc  neceffary  to 
enable  them  to  terminate,  in  an  amicable 
Manner,  as  foon  as  poffible,  and  at  leaft  with- 
in the  Space  of  two  Years,  all  the  Differ- 
ences which  have  rifen  between  the  Sub- 
jects of  the  two  Crowns  relative  to  their  Pof- 
feffions,  Rights  and  Pretenfions  in  North-Ame- 
rica. 

VII. 
The  prefent  Convention  fhall  be  ratified 
by  their  Moft  Chriftian  and  Britannic  Ma- 
jeures, and  the  Ratifications  fhall  be  ex- 
changed in  due  Form  in  the  City  of  Lon- 
don within  the  Space  of  Fifteen  Days,  or 
fooner  if  poffible,  to  begin  from  the  Day  of 
Signing  the  prefent  Convention. 

In  Teftimony  whereof,  &c. 

NUMB.     V. 

Counter-Scheme  of  a  Preliminary  Conven- 
tion >  in  Anfwer  to  the  preceeding  Scheme  ^  de- 
livered to  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  March 
7th,  1755. 

THE  Differences  which  have  rifen  in 
North-America  fince  the  Peace  figned 
at  Aix-la-Chapelle  the  18th  Odhher  1748 
between  the  Subjects  of  their  Britannic  and 
Moft  Chriftian  Majefties,    having   oçcafioned 

Hoftilities 


(     286     ) 

Hoftilities  on  both  Sides,  contrary  to  the  In- 
tention of  their  Majefties,  the  Confequen^. 
ces  whereof  it  is  of  the  utmoft  Importance 
to  fupprefs  and  prevent  ;  their  Majefties, 
moved  by  the  fame  good  Di'fpofition  to  re- 
ftore  Tranquility  to  that  Part  of  the  new 
World,  and  to  ftrengthen  more  and  more 
the  Friendship  and  good  Underftanding  that 
happily  fubfifts  between  them,  have  reiblved 
to  take,  in  Concert,  fuch  Meafures  as  fhall 
be  moft  effe&ual  and  expedient  for  the  At- 
tainment of  the  good  End  they  have  in  View, 
In  Confequence  whereof,  they  have  autho- 
rized the  Minifters  whofe  Names  are  un- 
der-written, having  inverted  them  with  the 
full  Powers  neceflary  for  that  Purpofe,  to 
agree  upon  the  preliminary  and  provifional 
Conditions  contained  in  the  following  Articles. 

Article    I. 

THEIR  Britannic  and  Moft  Chriftian  Ma- 
jefties oblige  themfelves  to  fend,  im- 
mediately after  exchanging  the  Ratifications 
of  the  prefent  Convention,  efpecial  Orders 
to  their  refpedtive  Generals  and  Governors 
in  America  to  fupprefs  and  prevent  all  Ho- 
ftilities between  the  Two  Nations,  a  Dupli- 
cate of  which  Orders  fhall  be  delivered  on 
both  Sides,  with  the  Ratifications  of  the  pre- 
fent 


<    **9    ) 

fcnt  Convention>  as  well  to  the  Minifters  of 
his  Britannic,  as  to  thofe  of  his  Moil  Chrifti- 
an,  Majefty. 

II. 
With  Refped:  to  the  River  Ohio,  and  Ter- 
ritories adjacent,  it  is  agreed  and  refolved, 
that  like  Orders  be  fent  at  the  fame  Time, 
with  Copies  of  the  prefent  Convention,  to 
the  faid  Generals  and  Governors,  to  deftroy 
within  the  Space  of  Six  Months,  to  begin 
from  the  Date  of  the  prefent  Convention,  or 
fooner,  if  poffible,  all  Forts  built  upon  the 
Peninjida  in  the  Lake  Erie,  and  upon  the 
River  Aux  Bœufs  and  Ohio. 

Their  Britannic  and  Moft  Chriftian  Ma- 
jefties  have  likewife  agreed,  that  a  Line,  be- 
ginning from  the  Eaftern  Side  of  the  Bay  of 
Canagahoqai  upon  the  Southern  Shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  be  drawn  directly  to  the  South, 
as  far  as  the  40th  Degree  of  North  Lati- 
tude, and  from  thence  continued  to  the 
South- Weft,  till  it  touches  the  37th  De- 
gree of  the   faid  Latitude. 

And  alfo,  that  a  Line,  to  begin  from  the 
Mouth  of  the  River  Miamis,  on  the  South 
Side  of  Lake  Erie,  be  drawn  to  the  South  or 
South-Weft,  as  far  as  the  Source  of  the  River 
Ouabache  or  Saint  Jerome,  and  from  thence 
continued  along  the  faid  River  to  its  Con- 
fluence 


(     288     ) 

fluence  with  the  Ohio,  and  from  thence  in  à 
ftrait  Courfe  as  far  as  the  above-mentioned 
37th  Degree  of  North  Latitude. 

All  Forts,  Fortrefles,  or  Settlements  built 
or  ereâred  by  either  of  the  two  Crowns,  or 
their  refpeftive  Subjects,  on  the  faid  Territory, 
fituate  between  the  faid  Lines,  fhall  be  de- 
ftroyed  within  the  above-mentioned  Space  of 
Six  Months,  to  begin  from  the  Date  of  the 
prefent  Convention,  or  fooner,  if  poffible,  and 
mail  remain  thus  deftroyed,  till  the  prefent 
Difputes  be  amicably  concluded  between  the 
two  Courts:  So  that  all  the  Country  which 
lies  between  the  above  faid  Lines,  extending 
from  North  to  South,  fhall  remain  and  b$ 
confidered  during  that  Space  of  Time  a9 
neutral,  and  fhall  only  be  made  Ufe  of  to 
carry  on  a  Commerce  with  the  Natives, 
which  fhall  be  free  and  open  to  both  Nations, 
without  any  Hindrance  or  Moleftation  whatever. 

That  the  refpeétive  Generals  and  Gover- 
nors of  the  two  Crowns,  fhall,  within  the 
Space  of  Six  Months,  to  be  reckoned  from 
the  Date  of  the  prefent  Convention,  or  fooner, 
if  poffible,  nominate  fldlfuf  Perfons  to  draw 
and  mark  out  the  faid  Lines,  within  the  Space 
of  Three  Months  at  farther!,  to  begin  from 
the  Day  on  which  they  fhall  be  nominated 
for  that  Purpofe. 

IIL 


(    *h 


} 


m. 

ît    is   moreover  agreed   and  refolvcd,  that 
le  two  Forts  upon  the  River   Niagara    and 
7ort- Frederick ,    or    Groiam-P  oint ,    on    Lake- 
lhamplain,  which   have  been  built  fince  the 
Treaty  of  Utrecht,    renewed   and  confirmed 
>y  that  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  fhall  be  deftroycd 
vithin  the  Space  of  Six  Months,  to   be   rec- 
koned from  the  Date  of  the  prefent  Conven- 
ion  ;  and  that  with  refpect  to  the  laid  River 
Niagara,  and   the  Lakes  Frie,  Ontario,  and 
Ehaniplain,  the  Subjects   of  the   two  Crowns 
lull   have    free    Liberty    to   pafs    and  repafs 
hem,  with  the  utmoft  Security,  and  to  carry 
bn   a  Commerce  without  any  Hindrance  or 
Molcftation,  with  the  Indians  who  inhabit  the 
Country   fituate    around   the  Great-Lakes,  as 
well  thofe  who  are  the  Subjects  and  Allies  of 
Great-Britain,  as  thofe  wrho  are  the  Subjects 
and  Allies  of  France, 

IV. 
It  is  likewife  agreed  and  reiblved,  that  à 
Line  be  drawn  from  the  Mouth  of  the  Rtver 
Penobfcot  or  Pentagoet,  as  far  as  its  Source, 
and  from  thence  in  a  ftrait  Courfe  to  the 
North,  as  far  as  the  River  St.  Lawrence  \ 
and  that,  from  a  Point  which  lies  at  the 
Diftance  of  Twenty  Leagues  in  a  ftrait  Courfe* 
from  the  Mouth  of  the   faid  River  Penobfcot 

O    G  Or 


(       290       ) 

or  Pmîagoet,    a   Line   be    drawn   acrofs  the 
Continent,  to   a  Point  which   lies   upon  .  the 
Coaft  of   the    Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  at    the, 
Diftence  of  Twenty  Leagues  from  Cape-Tour- 
?nentin,  in  a  fixait  Courfe. 

That  with  refpecl  to  the  Countries  and 
Territories  fituate  to  the  North,  between  the 
faid  Lines,  as  far  as  the  River  St.  Lawrence, 
they  /hall  not  be  fettled  nor  poftefTed  by  the 
Subjects  of  either  of  the  two  Crowns,  who 
fhall  only  ufe  them  for  the  Benefit  of  Traffick 
and  Commerce. 

That  all  the  Peninfula,  Itlhmus,  and  Bay 
of  Fundi,  or  Baie-francmje,  and  in  general 
all  the  Lands,  Waters  and  Shores,  fituate  to 
the  South-Eaft  of  the  Line  abovemention- 
ed,  to  be  drawn  acrofs  the  faid  Continent 
from  the  River  Penobfcot  or  Pcntagoet  to  the 
Gulph  of  St.  Lawrence,  be  acknowledged 
and  declared  to  belong,  in  full  Sovereignty, 
and  abfolute  Propriety,  to  the  Crown  of 
Great-Britain. 

It  is,  moreover,  agreed  and  refolved,  that 
the  rcfpeclive  Generals  and  Governors  of 
the  two  Crowns,  fhall,  within  the  Space  of 
Six  Months,  to  be  reckoned  from  the  Date 
of  the  prefent  Convention,  or  fooner,  if  pof-. 
fible,  nominate  and  appoint  fkillful  Perfons, 
to  draw  out  and  mark  the  faid  Lines,  with- 
in 


(     29i     ) 

in  three  Months  at  fartheft,  to  begin  frcm 
the  Day  on  which  they  mall  be  nominated 
for    that  Purpofe. 

V. 

Their  Britannic  and  Moft  Christian  Majes- 
ties engage  to  deliver,  without  Delay,  af- 
ter the  Ratification  of  the  prefent  Conven- 
tion, fuch  Orders  and  Inftruftions  to  their  re- 
fpective  Ministers,  as  mall  be  neceffary  to  enable 
them  to  terminate  by  a  definitive  Treaty  in 
an.  amicable  Manner,  and  as  foon  as  poffi- 
ble,  all  the  Differences  which  have  rifen  be- 
tween the  Subjects  of  the  two  Crowns,  re- 
lative to  their  PoiTeffions,  Rights  and  Pre- 
tenfions  in  America,  which  are  not  finally 
terminated  by  the  prefent  Convention. 

VI. 

The  prefent  Convention  fhall  be  ratified 
by  their  Britannic  and  Moft  Chrifiian  Ma- 
jefties,  and  the  Ratifications  fhall  be  exchan- 
ged in  due  Form  in  the  City  of  London,  within 
the  Space  of  Fifteen  Days, or  fooner,  if  pofiible, 
to  begin  from  the  Day  of  Signing  the  prefent 
Convention. 

In  Teftimony  whereof,  SV. 


O  o  2  NUMB. 


(       292       ) 

NUMB.    VI. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  wrote  by  M.  Rouillé,! 
to  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  the   27th  March,  I 

TO  obtain  an  End   fo   defirable    as   that 
of  Peace,  it  will  be   neçefiary  to  con-  1 
fider  the   Nature  and   Circumftançes    of  the  I 
Engagements    we  are  about  to  coqtraft,  and 
to  compare  the  Rights  and  Conveniences  of  ) 
both  Sides.     A  Talk  of  fuch  Importance  will  ! 
require  a  great    Deal  of  Time  and  Applica-  J 
tion.     And,  in  the  mean  while,  what    is    to] 
be   done    with    the    Armaments      that    are  ; 
prepared    on    both  Sides  ?    How  will   it  be 
poflible  to    reap  any   Benefit  from  a  Négo- 
ciation, if  Hoftilities   ftill   continue    in  Ame- 
ricdy  and  even  commence   in  the   open  Sea? 
Wilt  not    the   Interefts  and     Advantages    of 
one    Side  or  the  other   be  Motives  to  mul- 
tiply their  Pretenfions   and  Difficulties,   and 
raife   frefli  Obftacles  to   a   Peace?  This  In- 
convenience   muft  therefore     be   prevented, 
and   there  is  no  other  Method  of  doing   it, 
but  by  fending  uniform    Orders  to    the  re- 
fpeclivc   Governors  in   America^    and   Com- 
manders of  Squadrons,    to  fix  their   Opera- 
tions invariably  and  Amply  on  the  Defenfive, 

ma 


(     ^3     ) 

and  abfolutcly  to  prohibit  them  from  com- 
mitting any  Offenfive  Act  of  Hoflility,  un- 
der any  Pretence   whatfoever. 

The  King  will  make  no  Scruple  of  com- 
municating to  the  King  of  England,  Dupli- 
cates of  the  Orders  and  Inftructions  which 
his  Majefty  fhall  fend  to  his  Governors  and 
Commanders,  if  his  Britannic  Majefty  will, 
on  his  Part,  aft  with  the  fame  Candor  and 
Confidence,  towards  the  King.  What  we 
propofe  in  this  Refpect  is  fo  confident 
with  all  the  Rules  of  Equity  and  Modera- 
tion j  that  we  do  not  conceive  it  will  or 
can  be  rejected,  if  the  Defire  of  Peace  is 
as  real  and  fincere  at  London  y  as  it  is  at 
Verf ailles. 

The  Reputation  of  the  two  Courts  de- 
mands alfo  this  Precaution,  fmce  they  would 
expofe  themfelves  to  the  Sufpicion  of  Trea- 
chery or  Double-dealing  in  their  Proceedings, 
if  while  they  are  carrying  on  a  Négociation 
to  accomplish  a  Peace,  they  fhould  authorize, 
ft  or  even  appear  to  tolerate,  Hoftilities,  which 
are  evidently  contrary  to  the  very  Notion  of 
a  Reçoncilation, 

I  have  already,  Siry  given  you  my  Senti- 
ments on  this  Subject,  and  as  Truth  is  al- 
Vays  the  fame,  I  (hall  conftantly  ufe  the  fame 

Language 


(     *94     ) 

Language,  viz.  That  to  be  fincercly  defirous 
of  Peace,  and  not  to  fupprefs  or  prevent  Hof- 
tilities,  are  Things  quite  incompatible. 

NUMB.    VII. 

Answer  delivered  by  the  Court  of  London   to 
the  Duke  de  Mir cpoix,  the  $th  oj 'April,  1755. 

IT  is  with  all  the  Eagernefs  imaginable  that 
the  Court  of  London  agrees  to  conclude  a 
Definitive  Treaty  which  may  take  in  all  the 
Parts  of  America  m  Difpute  between  the  two 
Nations  j  this  having  been  intimated  by  his 
Excellency  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix  to  be  the 
Difpofition  of  his  Court. 

The  Propofal  made  by  the  Court  of  France^ 
in  the  Extrait  of  M.  Rouillé's  Letter,  written 
the  27th  of  March  to  his  Excellency  the  Duke 
de  Mirepoix^  is  the  very  fame  which  was  for- 
merly made,  and  has  no  other  End  in  View  but 
a  Ceffation  of  Arms  between  the  two  Nations. 

The  Court  of  London  finds  the  fame  Diffi- 
culties in  this  Propofal  which  prefented  them- 
felves  at  the  Beginning  of  the  Négociation,  and 
cannot  think  it  by  any  Means  favourable  to  a 
Reconciliation. 

In  ther  Counter-Scheme  which  the  Court  o£ 
London  delivered  in  Anfwer  to  the  Plan  of  a 
Convention  formerly  propofed  by  France,  no- 
thing 


(     295     > 

thing  i*  let  forth  but  what  appeared  to  that 
Court  to  belong  by  right  and  Treaty  to  the 
Crown  of  Great-Britain. 

They  think  they  have  even  given  up  that 
right  in  fcveral  refpects,  to  teftify  their  finccre 
Defire  of  Peace,  and  of  cultivating  the  moft 
perfect  Amity  with  the  Court  of  France  :  For 
this  reafon  the  Court  of  London  have  been  in- 
duced to  expect  that  his  Moft  Chriftian  Maje- 
fty,  according  to  his  well-known  Candor, 
would  have  inftructed  and  authorized  his  Am- 
baflador  to  deliver  in  the  particular  Objections 
which  the  Court  of  France  had  to  make  to  the 
Counter-Scheme,  and  to  be  amicably  explicit 
with  refpect  to  the  Demands  of  his  Court  > 
this  appearing  the  moft  natural  and  moft  re- 
gular Method,  as  well  as  the  moft  agreeable  to 
the  common  Délires  of  the  Courts  of  London 
and  Ferfailles,  of  obtaining  by  a  Négociation 
already  agreed  upon-\-,  a  fpeedy  and  definitive 
Reconciliation,  as  to  the  Points  contefted  in 
America  between  the  two  Nations. 

NUMB.  VIII. 
Extract  of  a  Let  ter  from  M,  Rouillé  to  the  Duke 
de  Mi  repoix  y  dated  April  1 3,   1755,  deliver- 
ed to  the  Englifh  Minifry. 

THE  King,  whom  I  have  acquainted  with 
the  Defire  which    his  Britannic  Majefty 
has  exprefled  to  you,    of  receiving  a  fpeedy 

Anfwer 

+  If  the   Négociation  waj  agreed  vpon,  why  did  the  Englifh  at  that  fery 
time  give  Orders  to  attack  the  French  in  America,    wi  why  did  tliey  reft 
ctmrani  a  Sufp«c£aa  of  Hoftilitici  in  Europe, 


(  . 296     ) 

Ânfwer  td  the  Memorial,  which  was  de-* 
livered  to  you  by  Sir  Thomas  Robin/on,  has 
ordered  me  to  difpatch  your  Courier  to 
you  without  Delay. 

The  King  would  be  willing  to  carry  his 
Complaifance  much  further;  but  the  Propa- 
fals  of  the  Court  of  London  give  his  Ma- 
jefty  no  Room  to  expeâ  a  Conclufion  of 
the  Differences  between  the  two  Courts,  by 
a  juft  and   agreeable  R-econcilation. 

According  to  the  Court  of  London,  the 
Succefs  of  our  Négociation  entirely  depends 
upon  the  Geffion  demanded  by  the  Englifh, 
not  only  of  the  whole  Peninfula,  of  which 
Acadia  is  but  a  Part,  but  alfo  of  Twenty 
Leagues  on  the  Coaft  of  Bai 'e-francoife,  on  the 
Side  of  Canada. 

This  Propofal,  efpecially  with  Refpedi  to 
Twenty  Leagues  of  Coaft,  is  fo  diametri- 
cally oppofite  to  our  Rights,  our  PofTeffiori, 
and  moft  effentiai  Intereft,  that  we  cannot 
poflibly  admit  of  it. 

Could  a  Ceffiori  of  this  Kind  be  necefla- 
ry  or  even  ufeful  to  the  Englijh,  either  foi* 
their  Trade  with  the  Indians,  or  their  Com- 
munication with  Acadia  or  New-England, 
we  might  attribute  to  one  or  other  of  thefe 
Motives,  the  Demand  they  have    made   of 

us, 


(     2$7     ) 
U3,  but   their  Prcteniion    cannot   be  founded 
on    any  Reafon  or  Pretence  of  Ncceffity    or 
Utility. 

The    Indians   have     always   had     the    Li- 
berty    of    trading  in    the    Englijh    Colonies 
as  well  as   the  French,  and  Twenty  Leagues 
more,  could    make    no    Change  in  the   Si 
ation   of  Affairs    in  that  Refpedt 

As  to  the  Communication  between  / 
dia  and  New-England,  it  is  abfolutely  im- 
practicable by  Land,  as  well  by  Reafon  cf 
the  Length,  as  the  extreme  Difficulty  of 
the  Roads,  and  the  Paffage  of  Rivers,  w7hich 
can  only  be  croffed  near  their  Mouths;  where- 
as on  the  contrary,  that  Communication  is 
extremely    fhort  and  eafy  by  Sea. 

It  is  for  this  Reafon  that  the  King  can- 
not, nor  ought,  to  confent  to  this,  becaufe 
the  Territory  along  Baie-francoife,  on  the  Side 
of  Canada,  is  indifpenfably  neceffary  for  us  ; 
fince  without  it,  Quebec  could  have  no  Com- 
munication during  one  Part  of  the  Year, 
either  with  Europe,  or  the  IJles  Royale,  and 
St.  John. 

With  Refpecft  to  that  Part  of  Canada  which, 
lies  above  Quebec  and  Montreal,  the  Court  of 
London  propofes,  that    the   River    St.  Lain- 
rence>  and  the  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie  mould 
ferve  as  Limits  between  the  Two  Nations. 

P  p  Upan. 


(  *9»  ) 

Upon  the  Determination  of  thefe  Limits 
the  Englijh  Miniftry  pretend  alfo  to  eftablifh 
the  Bafis  of  a  Négociation. 

Very  far,  Sir,  from  entering  upon  any  Ex- 
plication of  this  Article,  the  King  will  ne- 
ver confent,  that  his  Sovereignty  upon  the 
South-Side  of 'the  River  St.  Lawrence,  and  upon 
the  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  fhould  be  called  in 
Queftion,  and  that  thofe  Parts,  which  have 
ever  been  looked  upon  as  the  Center  of 
Canada,  fhould  become  its  Limits. 

The  Pretenfion  of  England  in  Regard  to 
this,  would  render  the  Prefervation  of  that 
Part  of  Canada  which  would  be  left  to  us 
after  fuch  a  Divifion,  extremely  difficult,  and 
even  impoffible. 

The  Court  of  London  does  not  feem  in- 
clined to  confent,  that  we  fhould  erect  Set- 
tlements between  the  Rivers  Ohio  and  Oua- 
bache,  unlefs  perhaps,  it  be  feveral  Leagues  on 
this  Side  the  left  Bank  of  the  laft  River. 

We  have  offered  to  evacuate  the  Lands  be- 
tween the  Mountains  of  Virginia  and  the 
Ohio,  and  to  eftablifh  a  'Neutrality  there  ; 
but  we  can  agree  to  nothing  further,  with- 
out giving  up  at  once  our  Communication 
between  Lcuijiana  and   Canada. 

We  are   too  effentially  different  in  our  In-  - 
terefts  and  Views,  as  to  thefe  Capital  Points, 

which 


(     *99     ) 

which   the    Englijh  Miniftry  look    upon    as 
the  neceffary  Bails  of  a  Négociation. 

In  the  Memorial  delivered  to  you  by  the 
Court  of  London,  they  fay,  that  they  hoped 
you  would  have  been  inftrudted  and  autho- 
rized to  give  them  the  feveral  Objections 
which  the  Court  of  France  had  to  make  a- 
gainft  the  Counter-Scheme,  and  to  open  your 
Mind  to   them  in  an  amicable  Manner. 

The  reafons  which  have  determined  the 
King  not  to  Anfwer  in  Writing  the  Coun- 
ter-Scheme in  Queftion  fubfift  ever  the  fame, 
fince  all  that  the  Englijh  Miniftry  have  faid 
to  you,  fince  the  Delivery  of  that  Paper, 
differs  icarcely  in  any  Thing  from  what  it 
contains. 

Their  laft  Propofals  have  only  been  of 
Ufe  to  unfold  what  was  not  exprefled  in 
fo  clear  a  Manner  in  the  Counter-Scheme. 

If  the  King  of  England  and  his  Minif- 
try are  as  fincerely  defirous  of  Peace  as  we 
are,  they  muft  formally  defift  from  their 
Pretention  to  make   us  abandon  : 

i/?,  The  Southern  Shore  of  the  River 
St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Lakes  whofe  Water* 
run  into  that  River. 

2d,  The  Twenty  Leagues  of  Country, 
which  they  demand  on  Baie-jrancoife. 

P  p  2  3d, 


(     3oe     ) 

%d,  The  Territory  between  Ohio  and.' 
Quabache. 

We  are  ready  to  enter  upon  a  Négoci- 
ation as  to  what  remains,  and  even  to  Sacri- 
fice our  own  Interefts < to  all  the  Convenir 
ences  of  the  Englifh,  which  are  confiftent 
with  the  Dignity  of  the  King,  and  the  Se- 
curity  of  his    PolTeffions. 

We  mall  be  willing  to  take,  in  Concert 
with  the  Britijh  Minftry,  the  mod  effectual 
Methods  to  prevent  the  two  Nations  in  A~ 
merica  from  invading,  or  diftreffing  each 
other. 

In  fine,  we  fhall  not  be  averfc,  even  to 
join  with  them  in  fuch  Regulations  as  may 
facilitate  and  improve  their  Commerce  ;  but 
fhall  enter  upon  no  Detail  on  this  Particular, 
as  long  as  the  Court  of  London  confiders  thofc 
three  Articles,  which  we  have  abfolutely  de- 
termined to  reject,  as  a  neceffary  and  preli- 
minary Bafis  of  the  Négociation. 
1  The  Territory  of  Ohio  was  the  fole  Matter 
in  Difpute,  at  jzr/?  ;  and  now  their  Pretentions 
take  in  all  thofe  Parts  of  Canada,  which  lie 
on  the  Southern  Shore  of  the  River  SL 
Lawrence. 

A  provifional  Accommodation  was  agreed 
to  be  obferved,  till  a  definitive  Treaty  could 
be  accomplifhed.     They  were  afterwards  de- 

firous 


(     301     ) 

firous  of  a  provifional  Convention,  and  pur- 
pofed  to  terminate  all  at  once. 

We  offered  to  iffue  Orders  to  our  refpecYivc 
Governors,  and  Commanders  of  Squadrons, 
to  fupprefs  all  further  Hoftilities.  But  this 
Propolal,  equitable  and  moderate  as  it  was, 
was  rejected. 

NUMB.     IX. 
Remark  deli 'ver ed  by  the  Court  of  London,  to 
the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  the   z\th  of  April, 

1755- 

THE  Court  of  Great-Britain  obfervea 
with  Concern,  that  the  amicable  An- 
fwer  delivered  to  his  Excellency  the  Duke 
de  Mirepoix,  the  5th  Inftant,  in  Confequence 
of  M.  Rouillé1*  Letter  of  the  27th  of  lafi: 
Month,  has  not  produced  fuch  Inftruclions 
from  his  Court,  as  would  have  enabled  him 
immediately  to  enter  upon  a  Négociation  on 
the  different  Points  contained  in  the  Counter- 
Scheme,  which  was  delivered  to  him  on  the 
7th  of  March  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that 
M.  Rouillé  declare?,  in  the  Extract  of  his 
Letter  of  the  13th  Inftant,  which  the  French 
Ambaffador  has  communicated  to  Sir  l'humas 
Robiîîfon,  that  France  requires  of  the  Britijh 
Court,  previous  to  any  Négociation,  that  they 

formally 


(     3°2     ) 

formally  defift  from  their  Prctenfions  of 
making  the  French  abandon, 

ift,  The  South-Side  of  the  River  St.  Law- 
rence>  and  the  Lakes,  whofe  Waters  run 
into  that  River. 

id>  The  Twenty  Leagues  of  Country 
which  they  demand  on  Baie-francoife. 

3^,  The  Territory  between  the  Ohfo  and 
Ouabache.^ 

As  to  the  firft  of  thefc  Points,  M.  de  Rou- 
illé has  reprefented  it  in  a  Manner  very  com- 
pendious and  different  from  that  in  which  it 
was  intended  to  have  been  underftood  in  the 
Counter-Scheme  above  mentioned  *.  But 
with  Refped  to  this  Point,  as  well  as  the 
other  two,  the  Britijh  Court  refer  and  adhere 
to  what  was  there  fet  forth,  as  being  founded 
on  Treaties,  and  appearing  abfolutely  neceffary 
for  their  Security. 

They  are,  neverthclefs,  difpofed  to  enter 
upon  a  Difcuffion  of  the  Points  in  Difpute, 
in  the  Courfe  of  which  it  will  be  discovered, 
wherein  confift  the  moft  effential  Differences 
between  tfie  two  Courts,   and  their  mutual 

Defirc 


*  Wc  may  here  obferve  how  carefully  the  Btitifi  Mt« 
niftry  pretend  not  to  comprehend  thoroughly  the  Ideas  of  the 
Court  of  France.  All  that  the  Engjsjh  were  apprchenfive  of, 
was,  that  the  Négociation  fhould  be  broke  of,  before  the 
Execution  of  their  Plan  of  Invanon. 


(     3°3     ) 

Defîre  of  Peace  will  lead  them  to  find  out 
the  Methods  of  facilitating  an  Accommo- 
dation. 

NUMB.    X. 

Remark  delivered  by  the  Duke  de  Mircpoix, 
the  6th  of  May,  1755,  in  Anfwer  to  the 
preceeding. 

THE  Court  of  France  is  inflexible  in  its 
Principles  of  Equity  and  Moderation. 
It  is  always  moft  fincerely  defirous  of  main- 
taining Peace  and  a  perfedt  Harmony  with 
the  Britijh  Court.  If  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix 
has  not  been  authorized  to  enter  upon  a  Né- 
gociation on  the  three  Points  relating  to,  17?, 
The  South-Side  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence^ 
and  the  Lakes,  whofe  Waters  run  into  that 
River;  2d,  The  Twenty  Leagues  of  Country 
along  the  Coaft  of  Baie-francoije  ;  and,  3^, 
The  Territory  between  Ohio  and  Ouabacht  % 
it  is  only  becaufe  a  Compliance  with  the  Do 
mands  of  the  Britijh  Court,  on  thefc  three 
Points,  has  always  been  reprefented  to  the 
Court  of  France,  as  the  neceiTary  Bafis  and 
preliminary  Conditions  of  the  Négociation. 

It  is  in  this  Senfe,  that  the  Court  of  France 
has  required,  and  continues  to  require,  that 
the  Britijh  Court  deflft  from  their  Pretcnfions 

on 


(     3°4     j 

on  thefc  three  Points  ;  but  the  Court  of  France 
is  difpofed,  as  it  always  has  been,  to  affift, 
agreeable  to  the  18th  Article  of  the  Treaty 
of  Aix-la-Chapelle y  in  an  amicable  Examina- 
tion and  Difcuffion  of  all  the  Points  inDifpute  ; 
and  to  make  fuch  Difpofitions,  in  Concert  with 
the  Britiflo  Court,  as  mall  be  judged  neceffary 
to  terminate  all  the  Differences  between 
the  two  Nations,  and  eftablifh  Matters  upon 
fuch  a  Footing  in  America  as  (hall  be  condu- 
cive to  the  Quiet  and  Security  of  the  refpec- 
tive  Colonies,  as  well  for  the  prefent,  as  fu- 
ture Times.  The  Court  of  France  is  far  from 
being  delirous  to  make  any  Demand,  but 
what  is  founded  on  real  Right  and  Treaties  ; 
and  as  the  BritiJJj  Court  declare  that  they  are 
a&uated  by  the  fame  Sentiments,  there  is 
Reafon  to  hope,  that  Difpofitions  fo  cquitabie 
and  moderate  on  both  Sides,  will  produce 
the  wholefome  Effect,  which  the  two  Courts 
ought  to  exped:,  for  their  common  Tranqui- 
lity, and  the  Happinefs  of  the  Public» 

NUMB.     XL 
Remark  delivered  by  the  Britifh  Minijîry,  ti 

the  Duke  de  IVIirepoix,  May  gth,   1755. 
HP  HE   Court    of   Great-Britain   obferves, 
JL     with   the   higheft   Satisfaction,  in    the 
Anfwer   which  his  Excellency  the  Duke  de 

MirepôiXj 


(    f*5    ) 

Mirepoix,  has  delivered  to  Sir  Thovms  Robin* 
[on  the  6th  Inftant,  that  the  Court  of  France 
not  only  perfifr.  in  their  Resolution  of  main- 
staining  Peace,  but  that  their  Difpofitions  are 
the  fame  as  thole  of  England  have  been* 
and  ftill  are,  to  enter,  without  Delay,  upon 
the  Examination  and  amicable  Difcuffion  of 
all  the  Points  in  Diipute. 

In  the  whole  Courfe  of  this  Négociation, 
the  Court  of  Great-Britain  hsve  proceeded 
with  so  much  Candor  j  and  Confidence, 
that  they  have,  without  Hefitation,  thought 
fit  to  fet  forth  their  Difpofitions  and  Pretennons 
in  a  plain  and  natural  Manner r  hoping,  by  the 
Concurrence  of  the  Court  of  France  to  the 
fame  Methods,  they  might  with  the  greater 
Eafe  and  Expedition  obtain  a  Reconciliation 
fo  much  defircd  on  both  Sides. 

NUMB.  XII. 

Memorial  delivered  by  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix, 
to  the  Mimjîry  of  London,  May  14,    1755. 

THE  Differences  between  the  Courts  of 
France  and  England  concerning  Amc- 
rica,  have   four  Gbjedb  in  View  :     j/?,  The" 
Qj|  Limits 

t  Jlre  are  inclined  to  prize  tk;s  Exprefjkny 
after  having  read  the  Papers  cfthéjh'/l  Part  of 

this  Collection- 


(     3°6     ) 

Limits  of  Acadia  \  id,  The  Limits  of  Canada\ 
3*/,  The  Courfe  and  Territory  of  Ohio-,  \th, 
The  Iflands  of  5/.  Lucia,  St*  Vincent ,  Domi- 
nica, and  Tobago. 

In  order  to  difcufs  thefe  four  Points,  no 
other  general  Principles  of  a  Négociation  can 
be  eftablifhed,  than  thofe  of  Juflice,  the  Se- 
curity of  the  reipeétive  Colonies,  and  mutual 
Convenience. 

To  thefe  Principles  ought  to  be  referred  all 
particular  Diicuffions  of  the  four  Points  in 
Queftion,  which  we  are  about  to  handle  in  a 
fucciudl  Manner,  one  after  another. 

Article  I. 

Concerning  the  Limits  of  Acadia. 

IF  we  attend  to  what  is  right  and  juft,  we 
fhall  find,  that  Acadia  comprehends  but 
one  Part  of  the  Peninfula  on  which  it  is  fituate, 
which  Part  extends  from  Cape-Fourchu,  or 
from  Cape-Sable,  as  far  as  Cape-Can fe au.  This 
Point  has  been  clearly  fettled  by  the  Memo- 
rial of  the  Commifiaries  of  France,  dated  Octo- 
ber the  4th,  1751.  Neither  the  Fafts  there 
contained,  nor  '  their  Proofs,  are  deftroyed  by 
fhe  Anfwer  made  to  it  by  the  Englijh  Com- 
miffaries  \  fo  that  this  ought  to  be  admitted 


(     3°7     ) 

as   a  Ban's  of  the  Négociation,    that  Acadia 
comprehends  but  odcrart  of  the  Peninfula. 

But  the  Court  of  France,  through  their 
Defire  of  Peace,  would  be  very  willing,  after 
having  difcuffed  and  eftabli/hed  their  Right, 
not  to  be  rigorous  in  exacting  it,  and  will  be 
ready  to  examine  what  may  concern  the  Se- 
curity and  mutual  Convenience  of  both  Na- 
tions with  Refpe£r.  to  the  Matter  in  Hand. 
They  are  even  reiblved  to  cede  the  whole 
Peninfula  to  the  Englijl:,  but  under  certain 
Conditions  and  Reftricftiorrs,  without  which 
they  neither  can,  nor  ought  to,  confent  to 
fuch  a  Ceffion.     The  Conditions  are  thefe  : 

i/?,  That  Liberty  be  granted,  during  three 
Years,  to  the  French  who  inhabit  the  Penin- 
fula, to  retire  with  their  Effects,  and  that  they 
be  fupplied  with  every  Thing  neceflary  for 
fuch  a  Removal  ;  which  the  EngliJh  will  unr 
doubtedly  look  upon  as  extremely  advanta- 
geous to  them. 

2d,  That  the  Iflhmus  and  Bcau-baffin  be 
referved  to  the  French ,  as  they  cannot  abfo- 
lutely  abandon  thefe,  without  giving  up  at 
the  fame  Time,  for  a  confiderahle  Part  or  the 
Year  at  xleaiT:,  the  Communication  between 
Quebec  and  Ifie-Royale. 

3</,  That  a  certain   Extent  of  Country  on 

the  Peninfula,  which  (hall   be  agreed  in  on, 

Q,  q  2  0; all 


(     3°8     ) 

/hall  be  left  uninhabited,  along  the  Coaft 
which  reaches  to  the  Gulph  of  5/.  Lawrence. 
This  Propofal  is  not  lefs  favourable  to  the 
Englijh  of  Acadia,  than  to  the  French  who 
inhabit  the  JJIands  Royale  an$  St.  John,  fince 
a  vaft  Thicknefs  of  Wood,  and  tjie  '  PaiTage 
of  feveral  Defiles,  will  be  equally  an  Obftacle 
to  any  Enterprizes,  which  either  of  the  twq 
Nations  may  be  willing  to  form  againft  the 
other. 

$th,  That  the  Englijh  defift  from  demand- 
ing Twenty  Leagues  of  Country  along  Baie- 
Francoife,  on  the  Coaft  of  Canada.  They 
have  absolutely  no  Manner  of  Right  to  make 
this  Demand,  neither  indeed  could  any  real 
Advantage  accrue  to  them  from  the  Ceffion  of 
this,  as  it  is  of  no  Service  for  their  Com- 
merce, and  wholly  unneceffary  to  thern  for 
£  Communication  between  Acadia  and  New- 
England:  Whereas  this  Country  is  indifpen- 
fably  neceflary  to  the  French,  for  their  Com- 
munication with  Quebec,  when  it  is  impracti- 
cable by  the  River  St.  Lawrence. 

The  Court  of  France,  to,  make  their  Con- 
defcenfion  to  the  EngliJ/j  fti.ll  more  mariifeft, 
and  to  teftify  their  Defire  of  maintaining  a 
perfect  Harmony  with  them,  will  even  con- 
tent, provided  they  find  the  like  Difpofition 
in  the  Court  of  London»  to  give   up   to  the 

Englijh 


(      3°9     ) 

Englifi  all  the   Country    which  lies   betwee» 
the  Rivers  Sagahadoç  and  Pcnlagoet. 

It  is  evident,  from  the  very  Titles  of  tho 
Englijh,  and  particularly,  from  the  Charter 
of  New-England,  dated  Oclober  7 ',  1695,  that 
the  Limits  of  that  Province  extend  no  farther 
than  Sagahadoc.  The  Ceffion,  therefore,  of 
a  confiderable  Territory,  which  lies  between 
that  River  and  Pentagoet,  will  more  than  fa- 
tisiy  all  the  realbnable  Views  that  ths  Btt* 
glijh  can  propofe  to  themfelves. 

From  the  whole  refults  this  Conclusion, 
that  France  offers,  for  the  fafce  of  maintaining 
Peace,  to  facrifice  her  Right,  her  actual  Pof- 
feffion,  and  her  evident  and  great  Intcre-ft; 
but  will  extend  this  Sacrifice  no  farther  than 
the  Ceffioii  of  the  Peninfula  ot  Acadia,  with 
the  Conditions  and  ÇJaufes  above  mentioned, 
and  of  that  Part  of  the  Coafl  on  the  Continent, 
which  extends  from  Sagahadoc  to.  Pentagcct 

Article    II. 

Concerning  the  Limits  of  Canada. 

THE  Court  of  France  has  abfolutely  re- 
jected, and  ever  will  reject,  the  Propo- 
fat  made  by  England,  that   the  South-Shore 

of 


(     310    ) 

©f  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Lakes 
Ontario  and  Erie  fhould  ferve  as  Limits  be- 
tween the  two  Nations. 

With  Refpect  to  this  Article,  we  muft 
eftablifh  it  as  the  Balis  of  the  Négociation, 
that  the  River  St.  Lawrence  is  the  Center  of 
Canada.  This  Truth  is  juftified  by  all  the 
Records  that  fubfift  on  that  Subject,  by  all  the 
Authors  that  have  wrote  upon  it,  and  by 
actual  Poffeffion. 

All  that  France  can  admit,  after  having 
eftablifhed  this  Principle,  whkh  cannot  with 
any  Colour  of  Reafon  be  contradicted,  is,  to 
examine,  with  Refpect  to  this  Point,  if  the 
mutual  Convenience  of  the  two  Nations  re- 
quires any  particular  Meafure  to  be  taken,  in 
order  to  fettle  invariably  the  refpeftive  Limits. 

The  fole  Pretext  which  the  Engli/h  make 
Ufe  of  to  cloak  their  Pretenfions,  is  taken 
from  the  15th  Article  of  the  Treaty  of 'Utrecht; 
but,  from  an  attentive  Examination  of  all  the 
Expreffions  in  that  Article,  it  is  manifeft  that 
nothing  has  a  weaker  Foundation,  than  thofe 
Inferences  have,  which  the  Court  of  London 
would  in  Effect  draw  from  it. 

ijly  That  Article  mentions  only  the  Per- 
fons  of  the  Indians,  and  not  their  Country  or 
pretended  Territory  ;  as  they  have  no  deter- 
minate one,  aad  know  no  Property  but  the 

actual 


(     »*!     ) 

adtual  Ufe  they  make  of  Land,  which  they 
occupy  To-day,  and  perhaps  ceafe  to  occupy 
To-morrow. 

2d,  It  would  be  abfurd  to  pretend,  that, 
where-ever  an  Indian  Ally  or  Subject  of  one 
of  the  two  Crowns,  mould  make  a  tranfient 
Refidcnce,  the  Land  which  he  had  occupied, 
muft  belong  to  that  Crown  whofe  Subject  or 
Ally  he  was. 

3</,  The  Indians  in  Queftion  are  free  and 
indépendant,  and  cannot  be  called  the  Sub- 
jects of  either  of  the  two  Crowns  ;  the  De- 
claration of  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht  in  this  Re- 
fpefit,  is  wrong,  and  cannot  change  the  Na- 
ture of  Things.  Certain  it  is,  that  no  En- 
glijhman  durft,  without  running  the  Rifk  of 
being  maffacred,  tell  the  Iroquois  (Five  Na- 
tions) that  they  are  the  Subje&s  of  England. 
The  Indian  Nations  have  a  Government  of 
their  own,  and  arc  as  much,  and  more  the 
Friends  and  Allies  of  France  than  of  England. 
Several  French  Families  have  even  been  adopt- 
ed among  the  Iroquois,  and  lived  with  them 
all  the  laft  War,  during  which  the  Free 
Nations  obferved  the  iiricteft  Neutrality. 

4^,6,  The  15th  Article  of  the  Treaty  of 
Utrecht  contains  the  fame  Stipulations  in  Fa- 
vour of  the  French,  as  of  the  EngliJJ:,  and 
thefe  Stipulations  are  reciprocal.     The  French, 

therefore* 


(     312     ) 

therefore,  can  maintain,  by  a  better  Titled 
than  the  Englijh  pretend  to  have  to  the  Iro- 
quois, that  the  Abenaquis  and  Souriquois  Na- 
tions, otherwife  called  the  Micmas,  Malecites, 
Gannibas,  &c.  are  the  Subjects  of  France  : 
And  as  fome  of  the  Souriquois  inhabit  the  Ex- 
tremity of  the  Peninfula  on  the  Coaft  of  Cape 
Fourchu,  and  Cape  Sable  ;  it  will  follow,  that 
the  French  may  have  Pretenfions  to  form  Set- 
tlements there,  with  as  much  Right  as  the 
Englijh  did  at  Ofwego  or  Chouagen,  on  the 
Banks  of  Lake  Ontario,  in  the  Year  1726  or 
1727,  and  confequently  a  long  Time  after 
the  Peace  of  "Utrecht  ;  fince  which  France  has 
never  ceafed  complaining  of  that  Enterprize, 
and  expects  that  the  Fort  of  Chouagen  will 
be  deftroyed. 

$tb,  Tis  a  Mifmterpretation  of  the  Treaty 
of  Utrecht,  to  pretend  that  it  authorizes  the 
French  and  Englijh  to  trade  indifcriminately 
with  all  the  Indian  Nations  under  Pretence  of 
Subjection,  Alliance,  or  Friendfhip  :  That 
Article  well  attended  to  and  explained,  only 
fecures  the  Liberty  of  Commerce  which  the 
Indians  may  have  with  them,  or  with  the 
European  Nations,  and  by  no  Means  allows 
them  to  leave  their  Colonies,  in  order  to  trade 
with  the  Indians. 

6ih, 


(     3*3     ) 

hthy  In  fine,  this  XVth  Article  admits 
that  it  be  refpectively  determined  what  A- 
merican  Nattons  (hall  be  deemed  Subjects 
or  Allies  of  the  two  Crowns.  This  Sti- 
pulation has  not  been  performed,  becaufe  it 
is  indeed  hardly  poffible  to  perform  it,  as 
an  Indian  Nation  who  are  your  Aiîie. 
To-Day,  may  To -Morrow  be  your  Ene- 
hiies,  confequently  their  Actions  would  per- 
petually contradict  fuch  a  Determination,  as 
might  be    agreed    upon. 

All  that  has  been  fet  forth,  clearly  proves, 
that  in  examining  the  XVth  Article  of  the 
Treaty  of  Utrecht  according  to  the  Rules 
of  Juftice  and  Equity,  it  will  be  eafy  to 
deftroy  the  falle  Interpretations  impofed  on 
it.  It  will  be  no  lefs  eafy  to  demonftrate, 
that  the  Englijh  ought  not  to  be  determined 
by  any  Motive  of  Intereft,  to  infift  upon  the 
Pretenfions  they  have  formed.  In  the  vaft 
Regions  of  America,  there  is  no  Occafion 
to  difpute  about  a  little  Ground,  if  one  Side 
ihould  happen  to  have  more  or  lefs  than 
the  other.  Security  and  Commerce  are  the 
two  only  Peints  on  which  the  Eifential  In- 
tereft terminates  :  And  the  Court  of  France 
will  always  be  difpofed,  to  take,  in  Concert 
with   the  Court  of  London,  fome     Handing 

R  r  arid 

- 


(     3  «4     ) 

and  equitable  Meafcres  with  Refpeft  to 
thefe  Points,  as  well  for  the  prefent  as  fu- 
ture  Times. 

Article    III. 

Concerning  the  Cour  je  and  Territory  of  Ohio. 

IT  is  evident  and   inconteftable  from   the 
Principles  of  Juflice,  mutual  Convenience 
and  Security,  as     well    as    from   Titles  and 
Records,  that   the   Ohio  ought  to  be  a  Part 
of  the   Poffeffions    of  France,     The  Englijh 
have  not  any  Settlements  on  that  River;  and 
when   the  Britijh  Miniftry  afferted,  that  the 
Heads   of  that   River   were   full  of  ancient 
Settlements  of  their  Nation,  they  two  readily 
gave   Credit   to  falfe  Relations.     The  French 
have  ever  looked  upon  that  River  as  belong- 
ing to  Canada,  and  it    is    effentially    necef- 
fary   to  them  for  the  Communication  of  Cana-  \ 
da  with  Louijiana.     They  have  frequented  it  '. 
at   all  Times,  and   with  Forces  :     It  was  al- 
io by  that  River,  that  thé    Detachment    of 
Troops   pafTed,  who  were  lent   to  Louijiana 
about  the  Year  1739  on  Account  of  the  War 
with  the  Cbicafaws. 

If  there  had  been  any  Englijh  Settlements 
on  the  River  at  that  Time,  or  if  it  had  been 
a  Part  of "the  Britijh  Colonies,  would  the  French 

have 


(     3'5     ) 

have  been  permitted  to  go  down  the  River's 
wholeLength,  or  won  Id  not  theCourt  of  London 
at  leait  made  fome  Complaints?  But  then 
there  was  as  yet  no  Talk  of  the  new  Pre- 
tentions, which  have  iînce  rifen  without 
Proof,  Title,  or    any  Sort    of  Foundation. 

It  is  true,  that  within  thefe  late  Years 
fome  Englijh  Traitors  paffed  the  Mountains 
of  Virginia,  and  ventured  to  carry  on  a  Fur 
Trade  with  the  Indians  ©n  the  Ohio.  The 
jFwz<:AGovernors  oïCanada  contented  themfelves 
at  firft  with  acquainting  them,  that  they  were 
within  the  Territory  of  France,  and  enjoined 
them  not  to  return  there,  under  Penalty  of 
having  their  Effedls  feized,  and  being  made 
Prifoners.  The  Traitors,  however,  returned; 
their  Goods  were  confifcated  and  fold,  and 
they  were  perfonally  arretted,  taken  to  Quebec, 
and  from  thence  to  France,  where  they  were 
thrown  into  Prifon  at  Rochelle,  No  Reclaim 
or  Complaint  was  made  by  the  Court  of  Lon- 
don ;  they  were  looked  upon  as  Contreband 
Traders,  whom  their  Avarice  had  expofed  to 
the  Hazards  of  an  illicit  Commerce. 

After  having  thus  firmly  eftablimed  the 
Right  and  Poffeffion  of  the  French  on  the  Ri- 
ver and  Territory  of  Ohio,  it  ought  to  be  con- 
fidered  as  a  very  convincing  Proof  of  their  Love 
of  Peace,  that  they  arc  moft  ready  and  will- 
R  r  2  ing 


(     3*6     ) 

ïng  to  ftipuiate,  that  all  the  Territory  be- 
tween the  Ohio  and  the  Mountains  which  bound 
Virginia  fhall  remain  neutral,  and  that  all 
Commerce  in,  or  Paffage  thro',  the  fame  fhall  be 
prohibited  as  well  to  the  French  as  the  Englifi, 
Article  IV. 
Concerning  the  JJlands  in  Difpute. 

THE  Iflands  in  Queftion/  are  thofe  of  St. 
JLucia,  Dominica,  St.  Vincent  and  Tabago. 
We  are  not  afraid  to  affert,  that  the  Com- 
miflaries  of  France  have  demonftrated  to  the 
laft  Degree  of  Evidence,  that  the  Ifle  of  St,  Lu- 
eia  belongs  to  the  King  their  Mailer;  and  that 
thofe  of  St,  Vincent  and  Dominica  ought  to  be- 
long to  the  Indians  or  Caraibs  under  the  Pro- 
tection of  his  Majefty. 

Thefe  Commiffaries  have  made  no  Pvlemo- 
rial  concerning  the  Ifland  of  Tabago,  but  it 
is  no  lefs  eafy  to  dernonftrate  the  Regality  of 
the  French Claim  to  this  Ifland.  The  Court 
of  France  therefore  at  the  fame  Time  that  they 
offer  to  facrifice  in  Favour  of  England 
what  is  above-mentioned  in  this  Memorial, 
ynuft  infift  that  their  Right  of  Property  in  the 
Iflands  of  St.  Lucia  and  Tabago  be  acknow- 
ledged y  and  that  the  Iflands  of  St.  Vincent  and 
pomi  ni  ça  btlcft  to  the  Indians  or  G7r#/&r  under 
the  Protection  of  his  Moft  Chrijlian  Majejly. 
Signed  Duke  de  Mirepoix. 

NUMB, 


(     3T7     ) 
NUMB.  XIII. 

Memorial  delivered  the  ytb  June,  ij$*,bythe 
Minijlry  of  London  injinfwer  to  the  preced- 
ing? concerning  the  four  Point  s  in  ^uejlion^  rela- 
ting to  America. 

i.  The  Limits  of  Acadia  or  Nova- Scotia. 

2.  The  Limits  0/Canada. 

3 .  The  Courfe  and  Territory  of  Ohio. 

4.  The  Iflands  of  St.  Lucia  St.  Vincent,  Do- 
minica and   Tabago. 

THE  Court  oîGreat-Britain  eftablillics  as  the 
general  Principles  of  the  Négociation  thole 
of  Right  and  Juftice,  but  does  not  allow,  that, 
properly  fpeaking,  Convenience  is  one  ;  which 
can  only  be  admitted  through  a  Defire  of 
Peace  and  the  Maintenance  of  a  good  Under- 
standing fo  much  wifhed  for  between  the  two 
Courts  :  Who  ought,  confequently,  to  be  e- 
qually  difpofed  to  relinquifh,  in  fome  Cafes, 
what  may  appear  to  be  an  abfolute  Right, 
when  it  can  be  done  with  Security.  ThcBr/- 
tijh  Court  are  ready  to  teftify  their  Inclina- 
tion in  this  Rcfpeâ,  as  far  as  Prudence  and  Se- 
curity will  permit  them,  expecting  to  find  the 
fame  good  Difpoiitions  on  the  Side  of  France. 

A*- 


(     3*8     ) 

Article  the  firjî. 

Concerning  the  Limits  of  Acadia. 

WHatever  Reafon  France  may  have  to 
think  that  Acadia  ought  to  be  bounded  by 
that  Part  of  thePeninfula,  which  extends  from 
Cape  Fourchu,  or  from  Cape  Sable  as  far  as  Cape 
Canfeau,  founded  upon  what  is  aflerted  in  the 
Memorial  of  their  CommirTaries  dated  OSlober 
4th,  1757,  it  were  to  be  wifhed  that  they  had 
given  better  Attention  to  the  Reply  *  made  to 
that  Memorial,  and  delivered  by  the  Englijh 
Commiffaries  two  Years  fince. 

France  has  neverthelefs  anfwered  it  no  other- 
wife  than  by  afferting  "  thatthisReply  deftroys 
"  neither  the  Fa&s  nor  their  Proofs  contained 
ct  in  the  French  Memorial  ;  and  that  therefore, 
"  it  ought  to  be  eftablifhed  as  a  Bafis  of  the 
"  Négociation,  that  Acadia  comprehends  but 
c<  one  Part  of  the  Peninfula." 

Notwithftanding  this,  it  appears  to.  the  Court 
oî  Great-Britain  to  be  clearly  and  fubftantially 

proved 

*  This  Reply  has  been  anfwered  fince  by  a  Memorial 
which  ought  immediately  to  be  made  public.  The  Pro- 
ceedings ot  th^  Englijh  might  indeed  have  made  the  CommilTa- 
ries  of  his  Majeity  difpenfe  with  this  Trouble.  But  it  is 
the  peculiar  Glory  of  the  French  that  they  are  careful  to 
exhibit  to  the  View  of  the  whole  World,  both  the  Juftice 
•f  their  Rights,  and  the  Regularity  of  their  Proceedings. 


;■<  3i9  ) 

proved  in  this  Reply,  that  the  ancient  Limits 
of  Acadia,  or  Nova-Scotia  (for  it  is  concern- 
ing its  ancient  Limits  we  are  now  difputing) 
extend  on  the  Weft  towards  New-England 
by  the  River  Penobfcot,  otherwise  called  Pen- 
tagon ;  that  is  to  fay,  beginning  at  its  Mouth, 
and  from  thence  drawing  a  right  Line  on  the 
North  Side,  as  far  as  the  River  St.  Lawrenct 
or  the  great  River  of  Canada  ;  that  its 
Northern  Limits  extend,  by  the  faid  River  St. 
Lawrence  along  its  Southern  Shore  as  far  as 
Cape  Rofiers,  fituate  at  its  Entrance  ;  that  its 
Eaftern  Limits  extend,  thro  the  great  Gulph 
of  St.  Lawrence ;  from  the  faid  Cape  Rofiers t 
on  the  South  Baft  Side,  by  thelflands  of  Bac- 
calaos  or  Cape-Breton,  leaving  thefe  lilands  to 
the  Right  and  the  Gulph  of  St.  Lawrence,  and 
Newfoundland  with  the  lilands  thereunto  be- 
longing to  the  left,  as  far  as  the  Cape  or  Pro- 
montory called  Cape-Breton  ;  and  that  its 
Southern  Limits  extend,  thro'  the  great  At- 
lantic Ocean,  drawing  a  Line  on  the  South- 
Weft  Side,  from  the  faid  Cape-Breton,  thro 
Cape  Sable,  comprehending  the  Ifland  of  the 
fame  Name,  in  the  Entrance  of  the  Bay  of 
Fundy,  which  riles  on  the  Eaft  Side  within 
the  Country,  as  far  as  the  Mouth  of  the  laid 
River  Pe?zobfcot  or  Penlageet. 

A  Difference  fo  effential   with  Reipecl  to 
the  Limits  claim'd  by  both  Nations  as  their 

Right. 


(     32o     ) 

Right,  has  already  difpofed  the  Court  of 
Great-Britain,  for  the  lake  of  Peace,  not 
to  be  rigorous  in  demanding  what  belongs 
to  them;  but  to  propofe>  that,  two  Lines 
being  drawn,  one  from  the  Mouth  of  the 
River  Penobjcot  or  Pentagoet,  as  far  as  its 
Source,  and  from  thence  continued  in  a 
fixait  Courfe  to  the  North  as  far  as  the  Ri- 
St..  Lawrence,  the  other,  from  a  certain  Point 
on  the  faid  River  Pentagoet  Twenty 
Leagues  diftant  from  its  Mouth,  acrofs  the 
Continent,  to  a  Point  Twenty  Leagues  dif- 
tant from  Cape  Tourmentin  on  the  Gulph  of 
St.  Lawrence,  the  whole  Peninfula,  IJlhmus% 
Bay  oîFundy,  and  in  general  all  the  Countries, 
XUvcrs,  and  Shores  fituate  to  the  South-Eaft 
of  the  laft  Line  above-mentioned,  fhall  belong 
in  full  Sovereignty  to  the  Crown  of  Great- 
Britain  ;  and  that,  with  refpect  to  the  Coun- 
try, fituate  to  the  North- Weft  between  the 
two  Lines  above-mentioned,  as  far  as  the 
River  St.  Lawrence,  it  fhall  not  be  inhabit- 
ed or  poffeffed  by  the  Subjed:s  of  either  of 
the  two  Crowns. 

The  Britijh  Court  imagine  that  this  Pro- 
pofai  will  perfectly  anfwer  all  the  Ends  of 
Security  and  mutual  Convenience;  but  orï 
the  other  Hand  they  obfcrve  with  Concern, 
that  the   Conditions   and   Reftriftions  under 

which 


(     32*      ) 

which  France  pretends  to  give  up  the  Pof- 
feffion  of  the  Peninfula  to  Great-Britain,  are 
fubjecl  to  iuch  infurmountahle  Difficulties 
and  Objections  as  muft  render  Poffeflion  of 
the  Peninfula  entirely  ufelefs. 

i/iy  As  to  the  Propofal  of  allowing  tht 
Space  of  three  Years  to  all  the  French  who 
inhabit  the  Peninfula  to  retire  with  their 
Effects,  that  would  deprive  Great-Britain  of 
a  very  considerable  Number  of  ufeful  Sub- 
jects, if  the  fame  Privilege  mould  be  extend- 
ed to  the  French  v/ho  were  fettled  there  at 
the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  and  to  their  Defen- 
dants. 

By  the  Fourteenth  Article  of  that  Trea- 
ty, the  Inhabitants  had,  in  Fact,  the  Liber- 
ty of  removing  themfelves  elfewhere,  with 
all  their  moveable  Effeâs,  within  the  Space 
of  one  Year;  but  that  Time  being  elap- 
fed  Forty  Years  fince,  there  is  not  the  leafl 
Reafon  why  the  fame  Right  mould  ilill 
fubflft.;  and  it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed*,  but  that 
thofe  who  voluntarily  continued  under  the 
Dominion  of  Great-Britain,  as  alfo  their 
S  f  Defendants 

*  Thefe  Inhabitants  would  not   remove  ar  that  Time,  be- 
fcaufe    they  thought  that  the   Country  in   which    thev    du 
was  nor  comprehended  in  the  Ceflion  ;  aiuithe  them* 

felv'cs   muit   hraVe  been   of  thé     :  ion,    ?s 

not  ob  ige  them   to  acknowledge  the  King    v        %       '  twr 
i 


(  >2    ) 

Defendants,  born  in  that  Country,  would* 
with  the  grcateft  Regret  relinquilh  their 
Settlements,  even  if  it  were  poffible  that 
the  King  of  Great-Britain  could  confent  to 
a  Propofal  fo  difadvantageous. 

id>  Whatever  Defire  France  may  have  to 
pofiefs  the  IJlhmus  and  Beau-Baffiny  as  the 
only  Communication  during  a  considerable  Part 
of  the  Year  between  Quebec  and  IJle  Reyaly 
Great-Britain  can  by  no  Means  confent  to 
it,  without  giving  up  their  moil  effential  Se- 
curity for  the  Reft  of  the  Peninfuk.  They 
may  full  as  well  abandon  it  entirely,  as 
leave  the  Key  to  it  in  the  Hands  of  another. 

3^,  The  fame  Difficulty  prefents  itfelf  with 
Reipe6t  to  the  Propofal  of  leaving  a  certain 
Extent  of  Country  uninhabited  on  the  Pe- 
nirju/ay  along  the  Coaft  which  reaches  to 
the  Gulph  of  St.  Lawrence.  It  appears  to 
Great-Britain ^  that  a  vaft  Thicknefs  of  Wood, 
and  the  Pafiage  of  feveral  Defiles,  would 
rather  be  a  Cover,  than  an  Qbftacle,  to  any 
Defigns  which  either  cf  the  Two  Nations 
might  form  againft  the  other. 

Atby  In  Confequence  of  thefe  and  the  like 
Reflections,  Great-Britain  is  obliged  for  its 
Security  ftill  to  infift  upon  having  a  cer- 
tain Border  of  Country,  which  may  be  agreed 
uponj  along  the  North  Side  of  the  Bay   of 

Fundyi 


(     323     ) 

Fundy,  as    far  as  the  Gulph  of  St.  Lawrence, 
without  which  the  PoiTeiiion   of  the   Penin- 
fuia,  and  Bay   of  Fundy  will    be    altogether 
precarious. 

So  that  on  which  Side  foever  the  Con- 
ditions and  Reftriclions  propofed  by  Frame 
are  confidered,  Great-Britain  carmot  but  look 
upon  them  as  fo  many  Seeds  of  new  Dii- 
fentions.  To  leave  the  Bay  of  Fundy  in 
cemmon,  would  be  the  readied:  Method  of 
interrupting  the  good  Harmony  fo  much 
defined  on  both  Sides.  Nay,  by  the  Con- 
feffion  of  France  itfelf  in  the  Memorial  of 
M.  Torci  of  the  ioth  of  June,  1712,  Ex- 
perience has  heretofore  fitfficiently  demonftratca\ 
that  it  is  impofjible  to  préférée  fuch  an  Union  in 
Places  poffe (Jed  in  common  by  /^French  and  En- 
glim  \  which  Obfervation  is  equally  true  with 
ReipecT:  to  a  Bay  {o  narrow  as  this  in  Ques- 
tion. France  has  hitherto  been  content  with 
JJle  Royal  to  fecurc  their  Entrance  into  the 
River  St.  Lawrence  \  and  it  was  for  the  like 
Reafons,  that  the  Englijh,  to  whom  the 
Poffeffion  of  Acadia  and  Newfoundland 
was  fixed  by  the  Treaty  ot  Utrecht,  aban- 
doned their  Pretentions  to  poffefs  over  and 
above  thefe,  the  Ifland  of  Cape-Breton  in 
common  with  the  French. 

S  f  2  x^RTICLI 


(     324     ) 
Article    IL 

Concerning  the  Limits  of  Canada. 

IT  will  be    difficult  to  form  an    exaâ  Idea 
of  what     is    called    in     the     Memorial' 
the    Center   of  Canada,  and  much   lefs    can 
it    be    admitted   as  the    Bafis  of  the  Négoci- 
ation, that   the  River    St.    Lawrence   is   the 
Center   of  that   Province,  which   is   afferted 
without  Proof.     It    is    impoffible,    that  the 
Courfe   of  a  River  of  fuch    an    Extent  can 
form   the  Center  of  any  Country,  otherwife 
Great-Britain  would    not    confent,  that   the 
Territory  between     the  North    Side  of  the 
Bay    of  Fztndy,   and   the    Southern   Shore  of 
the  River   St.  Lawrence  (which   Great-Bri- 
tain  has  already   offered  to  leave  neutral  and 
uninhabited   by   either  of   the  Two  Nations 
excepting  the    Border  propofed  to    be  taken 
<pff)  ought  to  be,  what  it  never  has  been, 
eonfidered  as    a  Part  of  Canada  ;  as  the  con- 
trary   has   been  demonftrated    by  authentic 
Proofs. 

Neither    can    Great-Britain   admit,    that 
*  'France   has   any-  Right  to  the    Lakes  Onta- 
rio and  Erie y  and    to    the   River   Niagara, 
or   to   the  exclufive  Navigation  of  thefe  Wa- 
|erse     Since  it  is  evident  from  incontestable 

Fafts, 


(     3*5     ) 

Facts,  that  the  Subjects  of  Great-Britain  and 
trance,  as  well  as  the  five  Iroquois  Nat i cm, 
indifcriminately,  make  Ufc  of  the  Navj 
tion  of  thefe  Lakes  and  that  River,  when- 
ever Opportunity  or  Convenience  require. 
But  with  Refpcct  to  a  Portion  of  Country, 
fituatc  on  the  North  Side  of  the  River  St. 
Lavrcjice,  exclufive  of  that  which  has  been 
propofed  to  be  left  neutral,  the  Boundaries 
of  which  are  in  Difpute  between  the  Twq 
Nations,  or  their  refpeclive  Colonies,  the 
Court  of  Great-Britain  is  ready  to  enter  up- 
on a£  Difcu/Jion  of  this  Particular,  and  to  de- 
termine the  Limits  by  an  amicable  Négocia- 
tion; but  ftill  without  injuring  the  Rights 
and  Poffeflîons  of  any  of  the  Five-Ni7tio?:s. 
As  to  the  Expofition  given  in  the  French 
Memorial  of  the  XVth  Article  of  the  Trea- 
ty of  Utrecht,  the  Court  of  Great-Britain 
cannot  conceive  that  it  is  authorized  either 
by  the  Expreffions,  or  Intention  of  that 
Article, 

+  What  a  perpetinl  Growth  of  DHctif&ons  ami  future 
Négociations!  and  all  the  while  they  were  carrying  Fir. 
Sword  into  the  French  Settlements  in  dme+ka.  They  evpe  ;  i 
nothing  in  London  but  to  hear  an  Account  ofGener.l  I 
d:ck's  Exploits;  and  if  rhe  Orders  piven  by  his  Britannic 
Majefty  had  been  executed  with  all  the  dc fired, Succefs,  the 
French  Prifoners  would  have  now  been  in  Commodore  ke^pel'* 
Squadron,  returning  to  Frzsce, 


(     326    ) 

i/?3  The  Court  of  Great-Britain  cannot 
admit  that  this  Article  refpe&s  oniy  the  Per- 
lons of  the  Indians,  and  not  their  Country. 
The  Words  of  the  Treaty  are  clear  and  pre- 
cife,  viz.  that  the  Five-Nations  or  Cantons 
of  Indians  are  fubjed:  to  the  Dominion  of 
Great-Britain;  which,  according  to  the  re- 
ceived Explanation  of  all  Treaties,  ought  to 
feipect  the  Country,  as  well  as  the  Perfons 
oï  the  Indians.  This  France  has  acknowledged 
in  the  moft  folemn  Manner,  They  consider- 
ed well  the  Importance  of  this  Acknowledg- 
ment, at  the  Time  of  figning  the  Treaty  3 
and  Great-Britain  will  never  go  back  from 
it.  The  Country  poffefled  by  thefe  Indians  is 
very  well  known,  and  is  not  fo  indeterminate, 
as  is  pretended  in  the  Memorial.  They  pof- 
fefs  and  transfer  Property  as  other  Proprietors 
generally  do  every  where  elk. 

2d,  Great-Britain  never  pretended  that  the 
Land  where  an  Indian  made  but  a  tranûent 
Reiidence,  fhould  belong  to  the  Crown  of 
which  he  was  a  Subject  or  Ally. 

3*/,  However  free  and  indépendant  the 
Indians  in  Queftion  may  be  (which  is  a  Point 
the  Court  of  Great-Britain  will  not  under- 
take to  difcufs  *  )  they  ought  to  be  looked 

upon 

*  And  with  good  Reafon,  notvgithftanding  the  Point  is 
dectfive.  For,  if  the  Indians  art  indépendant,  they  are  not 
then  the  Subjects  of  England. 


(     327     ) 

.«pon  as  the  Subjects  of  Great-Britain,  and 
treated  as  fuch  by  the  Fre?ich  in  particular,  as 
they  are  folemnly  bound  by  the  Treaty  of 
Utrecht,  renewed  and  confirmed  in  a  better 
Manner  by  that  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  to  look 
upon  them  as  fuch.  The  Nature  of  Things 
is  not  changed  by  -j~  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht. 
The  fame  People,  the  fame  Country  always 
exifts  :  But  the  Acknowledgment  made  by 
France  of  the  Subjection  of  the  Iroquois  to  the 
Britijh  Nation,  is  a  perpetual  Proof  of  their 
Right  in  this  particular,  which  can  never  be 
difputed  with  them  by  France. 

^th,  It  is  true  that  the  15th  Article  of  the 
Treaty  of  Utrecht,  contains  the  fame  Stipu- 
lations in  Favour  of  the  French  as  of  the 
Englijh,  with  Refpecl  to  fuch  Indian  Nations, 
as  mould  be  deemed  by  the  CommkTaries, 
after  the  Conclufion  of  the  Treaty,  fubjeft 
to  Great-Britain  or  France:  But  as  to  the 
Iroquois  Cantons  above  mentioned,  France 
has  diftincliy  and  fpecifically  declared  in  the 
fiid  15th  Article,  that  they  are  fubjedt  to 
Great-Britain,  Magna  Brita?inia  Imperio  fub- 
jeffœ,  and  confequently  this  is  a  Point  which 
can  admit  of  no  farther  Difpute. 

$th,  In  whatever  Manner  the  Treaty  of 
Utrecht    is  interpreted  with   R.efpec~t    to    the 

Trade 

•f-  They  would  undoubtedly  have  [aid  fince. 


(     328     ) 

Trade  which  the  Englijh  and  French  fhaîl 
be  allowed  to  carry  on  with  the  Indian  Na- 
tions indifcriminateiy,  it  is~  neverthelefs  very 
certain,  that  fuch  a  general  Commerce  is  by 
no  means  authorized  by  this  Treaty.  To 
trade  with  one's  own  Subjects  *,  Allies  or 
Friends,  is  a  common  and  natural  Right  ; 
but,  to  enter  by  Force  upon  Lands  belong- 
ing to  the  Subjects  or  Allies  of  another  Crown, 
to  eredt  Forts  there,  and  deprive  them  of 
their  Territories,  and  ufurp  them  for  them- 
felves,  this  neither  is,  nor  can  be,  authorized 
by  any  Pretenfion,  not  even  that  moft  un- 
certain one  of  all,  viz.  Convenience  :  Yet 
notwithstanding  this,  fuch  are  the  Forts  Fre- 
derick, Niagara,  that  of  the  Peninfula,  of 
the  JkAVtt-Aux-bœufs,  and  all  thofe  which 
have  been  built  on  the  Ohio  and  Territories 
adjacent. 

Whatever  Pretence  France  may  urge  for 
confidering  thele  Countries  as  dependant  orï 
Canada,  it  is  certainly  true  that  they  belong- 
ed, and  (inasmuch  as  they  have  not  been 
ceded  or  transferred  to  the    EngliJIi)  ftill   do 

belong 

*  They  ar©  a' ways  begging  the  Qneftion,  by  fuppofïng  con- 
tinually that  the  Iroquois  ^re  the  Subjects  of  England.  They 
are,  in  Fact,  ac  this  Very  Time  their  Enemies  ;  and,  in  Juftice, 
they  have  alwavsbeen  free.  See  the  Harangues oï  Mr.  John* 
Jort>  and  Mr.  lFnJl:ir.giQ^t  above. 


(     329    ) 

belong  to  thole  fame  Indian  Nations,  whom 
France  has  agreed,  by  the  fifteenth  Article 
of  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  not  to  mol  eft,  Nul- 
la in  pofterum  Impedimenta  ant  Mole/lid  offici- 
ant J. 

6th,  It  has  been  already  proved,  that 
France  has,  by  the  exprefs  Words  of  the 
faid  Treaty,  fully  and  abfolutely  acknow- 
ledged the  Iroquois  to  be  the  Subjects  of 
Great-Britain.  It  would  not  have  been  fo 
difficult  as  }s  pretended  in  the  Memorial,  to 
agree  upon  the  Subjection  of  the  other  Indians^ 
if  among  fo  many  Commiffions  as  have  beeri 
ifTued  to  regulate  this  Point,  there  had  been 
a  mutual  Difpeiition  to  come  to  a  Conclu fion. 
The  Acts  of  thefe  Commiffions  have  fuffici- 
ently  difcovered  the  true  Reafons  which  have 
obitructed  the  Execution  of  the  15th  Article 
of  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  without  having  Re- 
con  rib  to  fuch  an  imaginary  Suppofition,  as, 
that  the  Treaty  was  not  capable  of  being  ex- 
T  t  ecuted; 


f.  Whir,  do  the  *EngJifh  fight   for  the   Iroauoity  wfiofç 
î  rhey  h.ive  ft  a  Price  u;:on,  a-id  whom  at  tnij  D%y  t.'iey 
lo  ik  upon  as  their  Enemies'  It  thefe  Lands  always  belonged 
rp  fhc  Indians,  why    is   all  Europe  now    troubled   to  do   rr 

l  Service,  which  they  do  not  require,  nay,  with  which 

<>ftended  ?  Or  may  we  not  ask  Er.ghtnd%  why  do  not 

■don  the  Iroqjnh.  who  have  already  abandoned  you  £ 

I    the   Blood  of  M.  Braddock  be  fpïït  in   the  Service   of 

fat  h  Friends?  Certain  u  hy  that  the  Indian:  fesdà  \wSt 

upon  :f<e  friendly  Zcti  of  the  fyetijb  as  difîntércftefll. 


(     33°     ) 

ccutcd  ;  a  Suppofition,  which  is  maniteftly 
deftroyed  by  the  Treaty  itfelf  with  Refpett 
to  the  Iroquois  Nations. 

Article    IIL 

Concerning  the  Courfe  and  Territory  of  Ohio* 

NOtwithftânding  all  that  is  advanced 
upon  this  Article,  the  Court  ©f  Great- 
Britain  cannot  admit  that  France  has  the 
leaft  Title  to  the  River  Ohio,  and  the  Terri* 
tory  in  Queftion  -,  even  that  of  Pofieffion  nei- 
ther can  nor  ought  to  be  alledged  on  this 
Point,  fince  France  cannot  pretend  to  have 
had  any  before  the  Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle, 
nor  fince,  unlefs  it  be  that  of  fome  Forts 
unjuftly  tere&ed  in  the  laft  Place,  upon  Lands 
which  evidently  belong  to  the  Five-Nat  ions%, 
or  which  they  have  transferred  to  the  Crown 
of  Great-Britain,  or  its  Subje&s,  which  may 
be  proved  from  Treaties-f,  and  the  moil  au- 
thentic A£h. 

The  Title  which  France  feems  moft  to 
infift  upon,  is  the  Ufe  made  of  this  River 
for  a  Communication   between  Canada  and 

Lcuifiana  ; 

$  The  Engljfh  all  along;  plead  nothing  but  the  Intcrefê 
and  Right  of  the  Five-Nations. 

|  EngUndt  perhaps  will  publifh.  thefc  Treaties  at  îaîh 


{     33i     ) 

Lêuijiana  ;  but,  in  Fad:,  thry  have  never 
made  any  Ule  of  it,  unlefs  it  was  occafionally 
or  fecretly,  and,  as  perhaps  might  have  hap- 
pened in  fo  vaft  a  Region,  in  filch  a  Manner 
as  not  to  be  taken  Notice  of,  which  however 
cannot  give  them  the  leaf!  Shadow  of  right. 

The  Rivers  Miam'is  and  Ouabacbe  only  have 
been  uied  for  ibme  Years,  as  a  Communi- 
cation between  Canada  and  Loui/iana,  not 
that  Great-Britain  can  admit  that  France 
has  any  Right  to  thole  Rivers,  much  lefs  ftill 
to  a  Paffage  fo  near  as  they  arc  to  the  River 
Ohio.  As  to  the  Ule  they  made  of  this  lait 
River,  on  Account  of  the  War  with  the 
CbickafawSy  the  Allies  and  Friends  of  Great- 
Britain,  when  Great-Britain  did  not  even 
make  a  formal  Complaint  of  it  ;  it  will  not 
follow,  that  a  Violence  committed  at  a  ccr^ 
tain  f  nice  and  critical  Conjuncture,  ihould 
ferve  as  a  Foundation  for  new  Incroachments. 
This  is  much  the  fame  with  the  ram  and  in- 
confiderate  Meafures  taken  by  a  Governor  of 
a  remote  Colony,  who  prohibited  the  Engl 
from  palling  the  Mountains  of  Virginia,  un- 
der the  Penalty  of  having  their  Goods  feized, 
and  being  made  Prifoners.  The  Manner  in 
which  the  Court  of  Great-Britain  complains 
of  fuch  like  Proceedings  has  been  fufficiently 
T  t  2  manifested, 


^ 


f     33*     ) 

manifefted,  in  the  Memorial  J  delivered  by. 
the  late  Earl  of  Albemarle,  the  7th  of  March* 
1752,  to  the  Court  of  France itfelf.  What 
the  Court  of  Great-Britain  anerts,  and  infifts 
upon,  is,  that  the  Five  Iroquois  Nations,  ac- 
knowledged by  France  to  be  the  Subjects  of 
Great-Britain,  are  either  originally  §  ,  or  by 
Right  of  Conqueft,  the  lawful  Proprietors  of 
the  Territory  of  Ohio,  in  Queftion.  And  as 
to  that  Part  of  the  Territory,  which  thofe 
People  have  ceded  and  transferred  to  the 
Brki/Jj  Nation  (which  muft  be  acknowledged 
to  be  the  moft  lawful  and  equitable  Manner 
of  acquiring  it)  they  claim  it  as  their  Pro- 
perty, which  they  have  not  ceafed  to  culti- 
vate Twenty  Years  and  more,  and  upon 
feyeral  Parts  of  which  they  have  formed  Set- 
tlements, from  the  very  Sources  of  Ohio, 
as  far  as  Pikhac-Villians,  whch  is  the  Center 
©f  the  Territory  fituate  between  Ohio  and 
Ouabache? 

But   notwithftanding    thefe   Facls    are    fo 

clear  and  evident,  the  Court  of  Great-Britain, 

for  the  Sake  of  Peace,  and  the  Prefervation 

<pf  a  good  Understanding  between  the  two 

*  Courts, 

±  This  Memorial  never  was  delivered  to  the  Court  of 

*'  "%  Why  do  the  Ençlijh  fpecify  nothing  more  exaétl y  ? 
The  froquoi$%  if  their  Original  u  confîdcred,  will  e'er  long 
give  the  "Englifi  an,  univerfal  Title  to  all  America. 


(     333     ) 

Courts,  have  propofed,  in  order  to  pre 
all  future  Difputes,  to  leave  that  T»<! 
Land  in  thole  Parts,  neutral  and  uncultivated, 
which  has  already  been  declared  to  the  Court 
of  France,  and  Great-Britain  is  ready  to  ad- 
juft  and  limit  the  preciie  Extent  of  it,  by  an 
amicable  Négociation. 

Article   IV. 

Concerning  the  IJlands   in  Difpute. 

THOUGH  the  Court  of  Great- Britain 
cannot  by  any  Means  be  fatisfied  with 
the  Arguments  aliedged  in  the  laft  Memo- 
rial of  the  Commilïaries  of  France,  with 
Refpedt  to  the  Right  of  his  moil  Chr. 
Majefty  to  the  Ifland  of  St.  Lucia  ;  yet  ne- 
verthelefs  they  are  of  Opinion  that  it  will  not 
be  neceilary  to  enter  immediately  upon  fuch 
a  particular  Detail  as  that  Matter  requires, 
which  indeed  could  not  be  comprized  within 
the  Bounds  of  an  Anfwer  to  the  laft  Memo- 
rial of  the  Court  of  France. 

They  were  engaged  in  drawing  up  an  ample 
Reply  on  this  Head,  as  well  as  on  the  Difpute 
concerning  the  Iflands  of  St.  Vincent,  Domi- 
nica, and  Tobago  :  But  the  Court  of  Great- 
Britain  are  rather  inclined  to   enter  upon  a 

Difcuflion. 


(     334     ) 

Difcuffion  of  the  Difputcs  concerning  the 
four  Iflands  in  the  Courfe  of  this  Négocia- 
tion, being  difpofed  to  come  to  a  reafonable 
and  amicable  Accommodation*,  in  full  Af- 
furance  of  meeting  with  the  like  Difpofition 
in  the  Court  p£  France. 

Signed,     T.  Robinson. 

NUMB.  XIV. 

Account  of  the  Engagement  of  the  Ships 
Alcide  and  Lys,  one  commanded by  Af.  Hoc- 
quart,  the  other  by  M.  de  Lorgerie,  taken  % 
by  Admiral  Bofcawcn'j  Squadron^  cmjijling 
tf  eleven  Vejjels. 

By  one  of  the  Officers  on  board  the  Alcide. 

IN  the  Latitude  of  45:  27  North,  and 
Longitude  53:  49  Weft,  from  the  Me- 
ridian of  Taris  ;  on  the  7th  of  June,  at  Six 
o'Clock  in  the  Evening,  we  difcovered  eleven 

Sail 


*  Sec  in  the  following  P*pcr  a  Eroof  of  this  reafmabl* 
And  amicable  accommodation. 

£  We  had  fo  much  the  left  Reafon  to  apprehend  an 
Event  of  this  Nature,  as  the  Duke  de  Mrefôix,  having  been 
informed  in  the  Month  of  May%  17c Ç,  that  Admiral  Bofcatuen. 
,  ad  Orders  to  aét  upon  the  Offenfive,  acquainted  the  Lord 
"hancellor  of  England^  the  Duke  of  Newcaple,  the  Earl  ai 
Qranville^  and  Sir  Thomas  Robinfon%  with  what  he  had  heard, 
Gho  pofitively  aflared  him>  it  was  abiblutely  faiie. 


(     335     ) 

Sail  of  Veffels  from  our  Top-mafts,  they 
continued  Eaft-North-Eaft,  at  about  Six 
Leagues  Diftanee,  M.  Hocquart  ordered  a 
Signal  to  be  made  to  the  Lys  and  the  Dau* 
phin-Royal  to  croud  Sail  and  endeavour  to  re- 
connoitre this  Squadron  before  Night,  think- 
ing that  it  might  be  our  own  from  which  we 
had  been  feparated  feveral  Days  ;  the  Wind 
iuddenly  abated,  and  a  Calm  inftantly  fuc- 
ceeding,  we  lay  to. 

The  8th,  at  Day-Break,  we  found  our- 
felves  to  the  Windward  of  this  Squadron, 
about  three  Leagues  diftant.  M.  Hocquart 
ordered  the  Signals  of  Obfervation  to  be 
made.  But  thefe  Ships  fetting  full  Sail,  and 
not  having  anfwered  our  Signals,  we  likewife 
let  full  Sail.  The  Lys  and  the  Dauphin- 
Royal  foon  found  themfelves  at  the  Head  of 
us;  the  EnglifJj  Veffels  vifibly  gained  upon  us. 
M.  Hocquart  gave  Orders  to  prepare  for  art 
Engagement.  The  Squadron  being  within 
one  Gun-Shot  and  a  Half,  we  hoifted  our 
Flag  and  Pendant,  and  fired  a  Gun  without 
Shot,  then  the  Englijh  Veffels  hoifted  theirs, 
when  they  were  nearer  to  us,  the  General 
hoifted  a  red  Flag  at  the  Fore-top-maft 
Head. 

Between  Ten  and  Eleven  in  the  Morning, 
the  Dunkirk)  of  Sixty  Guns,  appeared  within 

hearing. 


c  336  y 

hearing.  M.  Hocquart  defired  Meffieurs  de 
Rofiaing,  Coionei  of  Infantry,  de  Rigau% 
Governor  of  Trois-Rivieres  in  Canada  y  de 
Cra?icé,  CommiiTary  of  War,  de  Hélincouri 
and  de  Semerville,  to  attend  to  what  mould  be 
faid,  in  order  to  give  an  Account  of  it.  He 
ordered  it  to  be  proclaimed  three  Times  in 
Englijh,  Are  we  at  Peace,  or  War  ?  it  was 
anfwered,  We  dont  hear.  The  fame  Qucftion 
was  repeated  in  French.  The  fame  Anfwer 
was  returned.  M.  Hocquart  himfelf  then 
called  out.  The  Captain  anfwered  twice 
very  diftinctly,  Peace,  Peace.  M.  Hocquart 
afked,  What  is  your  Admirals  Name?  Admi- 
ral Bojcawen,  replied  the  Englijh.  I  know 
him,  he  is  a  Friend  of  mine.  To  which  the 
Englijh  anfwered,  And  what  is  your  Name, 
Sir?  Hocquart.  The  Time  of  pronouncing 
thefe  Words  was  the  only  Interval  between 
the  Word  Peace,  and  the  firing  of  a  Broad- 
fide,  which  informed  us  that  it  was  War, 
We  were  then  within  Half  Piftol-Shot  5  the 
Cannon  of  the  Enemy  were  charged  with 
two  Bullets,  and  Pieces  of  all  Kinds  of  Me- 
tal. This  joined  to  the  Confidence  which 
the  Word  Peace,  pronounced  by  the  Cap- 
tain's Mouth,  muft  give  us,  made  us  lofe  a 
great  many  People  ;  notwithftanding  which, 
our  Fire  wan;   not   retarded  $  we   continued 

îbmê 


(     337      ) 

fome  Time  with  our  Bowfprit  lying  acrofâ 
the  Veffel,  ftill  keeping  a  very  brifk  Fire  of 
Cannon  and  Small-Arms,  which  we  pointed 
at  four  or  five  VefTeJs  who  drew  towards  us, 
among  which  were  the  Admiral  and  Rear- 
Admiral.  But  what  could  v/e  expect  in  the 
Situation  we  were  in  ?  our  Rigging  was  cut 
to  Pieces,  our  Sails  full  of  Holes,  our  Fore- 
top-maft  ready  to  fall,  our  Main-maft  pierced 
with  two  Bullets,  our  Sail-yards  cut,  the 
Mizeh-maft  and  Mizen-top-fail  injured,  fe- 
veral  Pieces  of  Cannon  difmounted,  Twenty- 
four  Men  killed,  wounded,  or  maimed  on 
the  Decks,  among  which  were  four  Officers, 
Meffirs.  de  Roflaing,  de  V  Aubepin,  Monfer- 
meiU  and  feveral  Officers  wounded.  M. 
Hocquart  at  laft  concluded  to  furrender  to 
the  Admiral. 

At  Two  in  the  Afternoon,  the  Ship  De- 
fiance, having  made  towards  the  Lysy  the 
latter  kept  a  running  Fight,  and  being  at- 
tacked by  the  Fçugeux,  ûxe  was  put  between 
two  Fires,  to  which  fhe  could  make  but  a 
weak  Refiftance,  confidering  the  few  Can- 
non with  which  fhe  was  armed,  which  o- 
bliged  M.  de  Lorgerie,  after  making  all  the 
Refiftance  poffible,  to  ftrike  the  Roval 
Flar. 

U  v.  & 


^^ 


(  338  ) 

As  to  the  Dauphin-Royal,  the  fuperior 
Swiftncfs  of  her  Courfe  gave  M.  de  Montalah 
the  Satisfaction  of  landing  the  Troops  en- 
trufted  to  him  at  Louifoourg,  where  he  was 
informed  of  the  Capture  of  our  two  VeffelSj 
which  has  brought  to  Light  the  Defigns  of 
the  Englijh* 


BIN   I   & 


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